History ADifferentLesson / TropesMToZ

* PairTheSpares: Played with. [[spoiler:Jia]] is a spare, being a HopelessSuitor for Tai Lung who only has eyes for Tigress--but Po isn't, being one of the leads and a character who wasn't romantically pursuing anyone, let alone another main character. Although the panda is somewhat less prominent here than in the movies.

* NeverMyFault: Since Heian Chao is not only the BigBad, but a WellIntentionedExtremist ([[SlowlySlippingIntoEvil originally]]) who believes IDidWhatIHadToDo, it's to be expected he would blame others for his own mistakes and choices. However, it takes quite the self-delusion and ImplausibleDeniability to claim, right after having killed [[spoiler:all of his fellow students]], that it is ''their'' fault because he didn't ''want'' to kill them but they "got in his way".

* TheThreeFacesOfEve: Because they are [[{{Expy}} based off of]] WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender's Dangerous Ladies, the Wu Sisters fit this trope as well--Jia, the sweet and affectionate, [[FunPersonified playful]] and, despite her backstory, [[WideEyedIdealist innocent]] Child (while her sisters are casing the noodle restaurant in preparation for assaulting Ping, she's bouncing excitedly over the menu and [[FurryReminder begging for salmon]]); Chun, the sensible and capable Wife who save for two points in the story remains eternally cool, calm, and collected (and actually would make a good wife, as shown in backstory by a conversation she had with her father); and Xiu, the ManipulativeBitch Seductress (though Jia also has aspects of the latter, note the scene where she suggests a bondage threesome with herself, Tai Lung, and Tigress).

* NeverMyFault: Since Heian Chao is not only the BigBad, but a WellIntentionedExtremist ([[SlowlySlippingIntoEvil originally]]) who believes IDidWhatIHadToDo, it's to be expected he would blame others for his own mistakes and choices. However, it takes quite the self-delusion, MoralDissonance, and ImplausibleDeniability to claim, right after having killed [[spoiler:all of his fellow students]], that it is ''their'' fault because he didn't ''want'' to kill them but they "got in his way".

* VillainousLineage: Thanks to [[BrokenPedestal what he learns about his ancestry]], particularly [[spoiler:his father Bao]], and [[TheChosenOne despite being the Dragon Warrior]], Po is afraid he has inherited his love of battle from a place of darkness and bloodlust, making him once again not that different from Tai Lung. But of course, since he's still one of the main heroes, [[SubvertedTrope his fears are unfounded]]. The Wu Sisters Jia and Chun, meanwhile, are convinced being assassins is in their blood and will always make them evil and distrusted; the former has fallen into TrappedInVillainy because of this, while the latter seems to have simply accepted her lot in life/karma and does her best to [[PunchClockVillain treat it as a job]] that, while [[DirtyBusiness somewhat dirty]], is still [[NecessaryEvil necessary]] and can serve a larger purpose as long as she is [[NobleDemon neutral and honorable about it]]. [[spoiler:They both discover they are mistaken and [[TheAtoner can follow a path of heroism]], although it takes Chun until the very end of the series to fully commit to it.]] Their sister Xiu, at least, is absolutely an heir to their black-hearted mother's cruel and vicious ways, and seems to have [[InbredAndEvil inherited]] her [[AxCrazy insanity]] as well.

* MenAreTheExpendableGender: {{Zigzagged|Trope}}. Two of the most prominent female characters in the story, Mei Ling and Xiulan, are motivated by male deaths in {{Backstory}}, Mei by her father Wu Xuan (who is given enough personality, value, and backstory, and is remembered and honored often enough, to come across as DroppedABridgeOnHim), Xiulan by her first husband Dishi [[spoiler:and then by her current husband Zhuang]]. The two deaths with the greatest EmotionalTorque in the story are both men ([[spoiler:Zhuang]] and Vachir), and while the latter starts out extremely unsympathetic, this changes simply due to the suffering he's put through (and a bit of {{Backstory}}) while the former immediately starts out sympathetic and ends up motivating a large number of characters to acts of heroism (in fact he is, as noted below, TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth, a trope usually reserved for women). While both Chang and his wife are put through horrific torture, it's Chang who suffers the worst (and this despite being extremely unsympathetic to begin with as well) and is treated as such. While the BigBad is male, many readers considered the eldest Wu Sister, Xiu, to be far worse as a villain, and while his fate is more graphic and violent, hers remains filled with subtle and disturbing horror which did ''not'' inspire sympathy in the vast majority of readers. And the only ones of the Five to come close to dying are male, with one of them receiving a fair amount of mourning time from the other characters. The closest the trope comes to being played straight is through the victims Vachir/Chao murders...but the genders of most of them are never specified. Tai Lung does consider himself expendable compared to the others (particularly [[HeterosexualLifePartners Po]] and [[LoveInterest Tigress]]), but this is due to being TheAtoner and the nature of his crimes, not his gender.

* MenAreTheExpendableGender: {{Zigzagged|Trope}}. Two of the most prominent female characters in the story, Mei Ling and Xiulan, are motivated by male deaths in {{Backstory}}, Mei by her father Wu Xuan (who is given enough personality, value, and backstory, and is remembered and honored often enough, to come across more as DroppedABridgeOnHim), Xiulan by her first husband Dishi [[spoiler:and then by her current husband Zhuang]]. The two deaths with the greatest EmotionalTorque in the story are both men ([[spoiler:Zhuang]] and Vachir), and while the latter starts out extremely unsympathetic, this changes simply due to the suffering he's put through (and a bit of {{Backstory}}) while the former immediately starts out sympathetic and ends up motivating a large number of characters to acts of heroism (in fact he is, as noted below, TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth, a trope usually reserved for women). While both Chang and his wife are put through horrific torture, it's Chang who suffers the worst (and this despite being extremely unsympathetic to begin with as well) and is treated as such. While the BigBad is male, many readers considered the eldest Wu Sister, Xiu, to be far worse as a villain, and while his fate is more graphic and violent, hers remains filled with subtle and disturbing horror which did ''not'' inspire sympathy in the vast majority of readers. And the only ones of the Five to come close to dying are male, with one of them receiving a fair amount of mourning time from the other characters. The closest the trope comes to being played straight is through the victims Vachir/Chao murders...but the genders of most of them are never specified. Tai Lung does consider himself expendable compared to the others (particularly [[HeterosexualLifePartners Po]] and [[LoveInterest Tigress]]), but this is due to being TheAtoner and the nature of his crimes, not his gender.

* MenAreTheExpendableGender: {{Zigzagged|Trope}}. In a rarer gender inversion of StuffedIntoTheFridge, two of the most prominent female characters in the story, Mei Ling and Xiulan, are motivated by male deaths in {{Backstory}}, Mei by her father Wu Xuan (who is given enough personality, value, and backstory, and is remembered and honored often enough, to come across more as DroppedABridgeOnHim), Xiulan by her first husband Dishi [[spoiler:and then by her current husband Zhuang]]. The two deaths with the greatest EmotionalTorque in the story are both men ([[spoiler:Zhuang]] and Vachir), and while the latter starts out extremely unsympathetic, this changes simply due to the suffering he's put through (and a bit of {{Backstory}}) while the former immediately starts out sympathetic and ends up motivating a large number of characters to acts of heroism (in fact he is, as noted below, TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth, a trope usually reserved for women). While both Chang and his wife are put through horrific torture, it's Chang who suffers the worst (and this despite being extremely unsympathetic to begin with as well) and is treated as such. While the BigBad is male, many readers considered the eldest Wu Sister, Xiu, to be far worse as a villain, and while his fate is more graphic and violent, hers remains filled with subtle and disturbing horror which did ''not'' inspire sympathy in the vast majority of readers. And the only ones of the Five to come close to dying are male, with one of them receiving a fair amount of mourning time from the other characters. The closest the trope comes to being played straight is through the victims Vachir/Chao murders...but the genders of most of them are never specified. Tai Lung does consider himself expendable compared to the others (particularly [[HeterosexualLifePartners Po]] and [[LoveInterest Tigress]]), but this is due to being TheAtoner and the nature of his crimes, not his gender.

** While the protection which Oogway has Shifu set up over the Jade Palace as a barrier between Chao and the Heroes does come out of nowhere, Oogway describes it as one only a master with balanced chi such as Shifu can employ, and only when Chao's power has been broken--i.e., it literally could not be used until certain plot elements had occurred. Also, it too ends up being fairly insignificant in the FinalBattle: although it prevents the BigBad from possessing or outright controlling his opponents, he's still quite able to use dark chi to horrific effect on [[spoiler:Tigress and Jia]], as well as strongly influence both [[HotBlooded Tai Lung]] and [[HeroicBSOD Po]]'s emotions. The barrier [[DramaPreservingHandicap only provides the Heroes enough wiggle room to still fight]], with it being the combination of Tai Lung and Po's chi and kung fu [[spoiler:and Tigress [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice throwing]] the [[HolyBurnsEvil Golden Spear]]]] that finally does Chao in. Also, it is a power Oogway describes

* NewPowersAsThePlotDemands: Played with. The revelation that Chao [[spoiler:has [[AnIcePerson power over ice chi]]]], which is both [[{{Foreshadowing}} Foreshadowed]] and makes perfect sense for such a powerful master of chi, ends up not mattering when he has to face [[spoiler:[[RedOniBlueOni the pairing of Tai Lung and Po's Fire and Water chi]]]]. Also, while the protection which Oogway has Shifu set up over the Jade Palace as a barrier between Chao and the Heroes does come out of nowhere, it too ends up being fairly insignificant in the FinalBattle: although it prevents the BigBad from possessing or outright controlling his opponents, he's still quite able to use dark chi to horrific effect on [[spoiler:Tigress and Jia]], as well as strongly influence both [[HotBlooded Tai Lung]] and [[HeroicBSOD Po]]'s emotions. The barrier [[DramaPreservingHandicap only provides the Heroes enough wiggle room to still fight]], with it being the combination of Tai Lung and Po's chi and kung fu [[spoiler:and Tigress [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice throwing]] the [[HolyBurnsEvil Golden Spear]]]] that finally does Chao in. Even [[spoiler:the Urn of Whispering Warriors being able to [[SealedGoodInACan release]] the [[BadassArmy Warriors of Tenshu]]]] and [[spoiler:the Sword of Heroes being able to seal [[SummoningRitual gateways to the underworld]]]], as useful and sudden as these abilities seem to be, aren't precisely played straight, seeing as this doesn't contradict anything revealed by the movie, the KFP website, or ''Art of Kung Fu Panda''.

** After going almost the entire story never knowing Heian Chao's [[APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil real identity]], his species, or even [[HeWhoMustNotBeSeen his appearance]] (thanks to either his [[EmergingFromTheShadows always being concealed in--and even composed of!--shadows]] or InTheHood), all are finally revealed in the flashback memory Oogway shows to Shifu.

* ShutUpHannibal: Although (as per the trope description) the FinalBattle has a number of moments where a hero interrupts a villain--either verbally or physically--when they are in the midst of ranting at them with TrashTalk, a ReasonYouSuckSpeech, a BreakingSpeech, NotSoDifferentRemark, or some other form of EvilGloating (Po, Tai Lung, and especially Mantis get in plenty of mocking digs on Chao), the snow leopard also responds with a sarcastic, cold, and dismissive rebuke when Chao pulls a JustBetweenYouAndMe, WeCanRuleTogether in his prison cell.

* NotSoDifferentRemark: From the first time he appears in the story, Vachir notices this about himself and Tai Lung (and disliked admitting it), reflecting on the similarities between them in his memories of their first meeting, namely that they were both [[IDidWhatIHadToDo willing to do anything to get what they wanted]] (or [[ItsAllAboutMe felt was due them]]), as well as to achieve vengeance on someone they felt had slighted them. As the story progresses, Tai Lung in turn learns just what a phenomenal fighter the rhino is once they finally end up in combat against each other. After they are left together on the ledge in Chorh-Gom and stories are shared, Vachir reveals how his KnightTemplar attitude led him to fall into HeWhoFightsMonsters, and the rhino understands that his subsequent actions were no better or different than Tai Lung's rampage. [[spoiler:And both of them were pushed into their atrocities by Chao's MoreThanMindControl.]] The snow leopard finally admits that if matters had been different, they could have been friends.

* OneDegreeOfSeparation: The Wu Sisters not only happen to have [[EveryoneWentToSchoolTogether gone to school with Crane and Mei Ling]] (and are the latter's half-sisters), and have met Tai Lung and helped him on the way to becoming a FallenHero (a reference to their having been part of his army in the original script), but they also happened to know Po's biological parents and promised them they'd look in on the panda and Ping. While the former connections are there just for dramatic narrative purposes, the last one is surely meant as another symbolic way to underscore how Po and Tai Lung aren't sp different, {{Foil}}s, and two halves of a BashBrothers, RedOniBlueOni, YinYangBomb [[{{Deuteragonist}} pairing]]. [[spoiler:The fact it was the Wu Sisters' father who [[DoorstopBaby brought Tai Lung to the Jade Palace as a baby]], as a favor to the wife of his friend after the latter's death, and that Xiu killing him kept Tai Lung's origin a secret as much as Po's was [[LockedOutOfTheLoop via oath]], is even more of an example. [[ArcWords "There are no accidents"]], indeed.]]

* APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil: In yet another parallel between [[HistoryRepeats him and Tai Lung]], Heian Chao was once a good person, as well as Oogway's most promising and skilled student, with his arrogance and impatience at not being taught the mystical skills he believed he needed being what caused him to fall into evil. Interestingly, this puts Tai Lung in the position of [[MasterApprenticeChain being both]] the HerosEvilPredecessor for Po and the MentorsNewHope to bring down Chao, but where Po simply acted to save and redeem the snow leopard, Tai Lung has no intention to do anything but destroy the KungFuWizard. It's also a case where the MasterApprenticeChain has some side links (Po has to face Shifu's previous student, but Tai Lung has to face another of Oogway's, not Shifu's) and is being followed farther back in history so as to SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong.

* UsedToBeASweetKid: Aside from the way this already applies to him in the movie, the scene where Tai Lung and the others discover the portrait of him as an adorable cub in Oogway's room is an InUniverse OldShame / PlayedForLaughs variation. Except that instead of Tai Lung bemoaning the ruining of his VillainCred, he's attempting to head off BadassDecay. Despite the fact he remains a badass for the rest of the story, amusingly, no one seems to believe him when he calls his cub self a hellion...except Tigress.

* YouKeepTellingYourselfThat: An interesting variation, since the characters involved are a former villain (BigBad turned TheAtoner) and a former hero (InspectorJavert who is JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope [[spoiler:thanks to DemonicPossession]] into HeWhoFightsMonsters). At Chorh-Gom, when Vachir tries taunting Tai Lung that they are not that different (and that Tai Lung will always be a hated villain), the snow leopard furiously goes into a RoaringRampageOfRevenge, denying it via PunctuatedPounding. The rhino's response is to sneer that he's only fooling himself and can't ever really change. While [[{{Hypocrite}} he is in no position to judge]] thanks to all the murders he's committed to lure Tai Lung into his clutches [[spoiler:and the fact it's actually Chao saying these things gives his argument even less merit]], [[GrayAndGreyMorality there's enough truth in his words]] (either when it comes to the people of the Valley or the snow leopard's own guilty conscience) to give Tai Lung pause. It's certainly true that while most of what Vachir has done is in reaction to Tai Lung, the snow leopard is the one who chose villainy as his reaction to Shifu and Oogway's decisions.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped ([[InvokedTrope invoked]] in-story):
** While just about everyone gets to do this in the end, Shifu, Oogway, Po, and Tigress all especially have to beat it into Tai Lung's skull repeatedly that he is not the Dragon Warrior, was never meant to be, and why—but also that this doesn't doom him to be evil or mean his life and training are now meaningless. Also, when the time comes for Tai Lung to realize and accept [[spoiler:that he and Po are meant to be brother warriors who fight as two halves of a team, their abilities and personalities reflecting the Yin and the Yang]], this fact is ground in for him by [[spoiler:Po's fur colors]].
** Any number of times the point was repeatedly made (whether to Tai Lung, Shifu, Tigress, or the villagers) that while powerful and terrifying, Heian Chao's dark chi was always MoreThanMindControl—i.e., that he was only influencing flaws and negative character traits which were already there, to make people do what they secretly wanted to on some level. Which meant that even once Chao himself was gone, these traits and flaws still must be dealt with in the usual manner to prevent tragedy and suffering in the future—and that [[AvertedTrope no one]] he influenced [[GetOutOfJailFreeCard could be excused of their actions because of him]]. He encouraged and manipulated them, but in the end most of their choices were still theirs.

** Early on, Tai Lung wants Tigress to ensure that if he [[ChronicVillainy ever falls into darkness again]], she stop him before he commits another rampage. Naturally, she is quite eager and willing to do so. But when, true to the trope, she faces the prospect of having to keep her word near the end of the story, ironically [[MoralDilemma she is no longer so sure she can do it]] since by then she has come to love him. Luckily for her, her resolve is never tested since [[AllLovingHero other]] forces [[BigDamnHeroes intervene]].

* NotSoDifferent:
** From the first time he appears in the story, Vachir notices this about himself and Tai Lung (and disliked admitting it), reflecting on the similarities between them in his memories of their first meeting, namely that they were both [[IDidWhatIHadToDo willing to do anything to get what they wanted]] (or [[ItsAllAboutMe felt was due them]]), as well as to achieve vengeance on someone they felt had slighted them. As the story progresses, Tai Lung in turn learns just what a phenomenal fighter the rhino is once they finally end up in combat against each other. After they are left together on the ledge in Chorh-Gom and stories are shared, Vachir reveals how his KnightTemplar attitude led him to fall into HeWhoFightsMonsters, and the rhino understands that his subsequent actions were no better or different than Tai Lung's rampage. [[spoiler:And both of them were pushed into their atrocities by Chao's MoreThanMindControl.]] The snow leopard finally admits that if matters had been different, they could have been friends.
** Tai Lung and Chao, at least in {{Backstory}}, share a number of traits--both the greatest warrior/chi master of their generation, both filled with too much pride and a powerful sense of entitlement, both believing they had a grand destiny from which the turtle was holding them back, both believing they had to go out and make the world a better place/face down a great evil, and willing to do anything to achieve it--and both, of course, falling into darkness and ending up imprisoned by Oogway. Chao himself uses these similarities [[WeCanRuleTogether to try and convince Tai Lung to join him]], while Shifu recognizes them when told the story by Oogway.

* OneDegreeOfSeparation: The Wu Sisters not only happen to have [[EveryoneWentToSchoolTogether gone to school with Crane and Mei Ling]] (and are the latter's half-sisters), and have met Tai Lung and helped him on the way to becoming a FallenHero (a reference to their having been part of his army in the original script), but they also happened to know Po's biological parents and promised them they'd look in on the panda and Ping. While the former connections are there just for dramatic narrative purposes, the last one is surely meant as another symbolic way to underscore how Po and Tai Lung are NotSoDifferent, {{Foil}}s, and two halves of a BashBrothers, RedOniBlueOni, YinYangBomb [[{{Deuteragonist}} pairing]]. [[spoiler:The fact it was the Wu Sisters' father who [[DoorstopBaby brought Tai Lung to the Jade Palace as a baby]], as a favor to the wife of his friend after the latter's death, and that Xiu killing him kept Tai Lung's origin a secret as much as Po's was [[LockedOutOfTheLoop via oath]], is even more of an example. [[ArcWords "There are no accidents"]], indeed.]]

* PunctuatedPounding: After Vachir insinuates during the battle at Chorh-Gom that they are NotSoDifferent, Tai Lung reacts with a furious, vicious denial, one that is accompanied by various physical blows and sound effects to match his words.

* APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil: In [[NotSoDifferent yet another parallel]] between [[HistoryRepeats him and Tai Lung]], Heian Chao was once a good person, as well as Oogway's most promising and skilled student, with his arrogance and impatience at not being taught the mystical skills he believed he needed being what caused him to fall into evil. Interestingly, this puts Tai Lung in the position of [[MasterApprenticeChain being both]] the HerosEvilPredecessor for Po and the MentorsNewHope to bring down Chao, but where Po simply acted to save and redeem the snow leopard, Tai Lung has no intention to do anything but destroy the KungFuWizard. It's also a case where the MasterApprenticeChain has some side links (Po has to face Shifu's previous student, but Tai Lung has to face another of Oogway's, not Shifu's) and is being followed farther back in history so as to SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong.

* SandInMyEyes: Tai Lung, who naturally refuses to display vulnerability of any sort [[TheStoic (especially not the emotional kind)]], uses the excuse of his allergy to all the dust in the air thanks to cleaning Oogway's room, when the turtle's secret cabinet has been opened and revealed he did love and care for the snow leopard, to cover for the tears forming in his eyes. Amusingly, Tigress [[NotSoDifferent uses the same excuse]] in the very same chapter, when they discover a set of dominoes among Oogway's things which are strongly implied to be the same ones Shifu used to help her train her strength as a cub in ''Secrets of the Furious Five''.

* ShutUpHannibal: Although (as per the trope description) the FinalBattle has a number of moments where a hero interrupts a villain--either verbally or physically--when they are in the midst of ranting at them with TrashTalk, a ReasonYouSuckSpeech, a BreakingSpeech, NotSoDifferent, or some other form of EvilGloating (Po, Tai Lung, and especially Mantis get in plenty of mocking digs on Chao), the snow leopard also responds with a sarcastic, cold, and dismissive rebuke when Chao pulls a JustBetweenYouAndMe, WeCanRuleTogether in his prison cell.

** At one point, to keep someone from knowing what he actually had on his mind, Tai Lung says, [[NotSoDifferent just]] like [[{{Foil}} Po]], "What was I thinking about? Er...noodles."

* TellMeAboutMyFather: [[NotSoDifferent Both]] Tai Lung and Po are interested in learning about their biological families, although the snow leopard is far more determined to do so, aided by his [[CallingTheOldManOut less-than-stellar relationship]] with Shifu as opposed to the panda's devoted closeness to Ping. One is quite happy with what he learns, the other...[[BrokenPedestal isn't]]. [[spoiler:And it's not who you think.]] Interestingly, in both cases it's ''both'' parents the asker is concerned with, although Po ends up more focused on his father than his mother in the end [[spoiler:(because he's the one who turned out to be somewhat villainous)]]. Also, in one case it was simply a matter of not wishing to disturb him in the new family he had come to love (and the death of [[SecretKeeper the one character who knew the secret]]), not any attempt to hide the truth from him, while for the other it's a case of [[spoiler:the ''DisappearedDad'' being the one who wants his child LockedOutOfTheLoop because ''he'' doesn't want him to TurnOutLikeHisFather, and thus making Chun and Ping swear an oath of secrecy]].

* UsedToBeASweetKid: Aside from the way this already applies to him in the movie, the scene where Tai Lung and the others discover the portrait of him as an adorable cub in Oogway's room is an InUniverse OldShame / PlayedForLaughs variation. Except that instead of Tai Lung bemoaning the ruining of his VillainCred, he's attempting to head off BadassDecay. Despite the fact he remains a badass for the rest of the story, amusingly, no one seems to believe him when he calls his cub self a hellion...[[NotSoDifferent except Tigress]].

* VillainousLineage: Thanks to [[BrokenPedestal what he learns about his ancestry]], particularly [[spoiler:his father Bao]], and [[TheChosenOne despite being the Dragon Warrior]], Po is afraid he has inherited his love of battle from a place of darkness and bloodlust, making him once again NotSoDifferent from Tai Lung. But of course, since he's still one of the main heroes, [[SubvertedTrope his fears are unfounded]]. The Wu Sisters Jia and Chun, meanwhile, are convinced being assassins is in their blood and will always make them evil and distrusted; the former has fallen into TrappedInVillainy because of this, while the latter seems to have simply accepted her lot in life/karma and does her best to [[PunchClockVillain treat it as a job]] that, while [[DirtyBusiness somewhat dirty]], is still [[NecessaryEvil necessary]] and can serve a larger purpose as long as she is [[NobleDemon neutral and honorable about it]]. [[spoiler:They both discover they are mistaken and [[TheAtoner can follow a path of heroism]], although it takes Chun until the very end of the series to fully commit to it.]] Their sister Xiu, at least, is absolutely an heir to their black-hearted mother's cruel and vicious ways, and seems to have [[InbredAndEvil inherited]] her [[AxCrazy insanity]] as well.

* YouKeepTellingYourselfThat: An interesting variation, since the characters involved are a former villain (BigBad turned TheAtoner) and a former hero (InspectorJavert who is JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope [[spoiler:thanks to DemonicPossession]] into HeWhoFightsMonsters). At Chorh-Gom, when Vachir tries taunting Tai Lung that they are NotSoDifferent (and that Tai Lung will always be a hated villain), the snow leopard furiously goes into a RoaringRampageOfRevenge, denying it via PunctuatedPounding. The rhino's response is to sneer that he's only fooling himself and can't ever really change. While [[{{Hypocrite}} he is in no position to judge]] thanks to all the murders he's committed to lure Tai Lung into his clutches [[spoiler:and the fact it's actually Chao saying these things gives his argument even less merit]], [[GrayAndGreyMorality there's enough truth in his words]] (either when it comes to the people of the Valley or the snow leopard's own guilty conscience) to give Tai Lung pause. It's certainly true that while most of what Vachir has done is in reaction to Tai Lung, the snow leopard is the one who chose villainy as his reaction to Shifu and Oogway's decisions.

** The sign that things have reached their DarkestHour would be when Po, ultimate NiceGuy and [[TheChosenOne hero]], not only approaches the matter of facing the Wu Sisters to [[IHaveYourWife rescue his father]] far more [[BewareTheNiceOnes fiercely]] and [[LetsGetDangerous seriously]] than anyone could ever have expected, to the point even Tigress is disturbed, but also [[PrecisionFStrike swears for the first time]] when attacking Xiu. Not coincidentally, [[TookALevelInBadass he's quite badass]] while doing so. Interestingly this is also an in-story example, since the fact he went this far is a matter of some concern for Po, because he believes it's a sign [[spoiler:[[InTheBlood he is just like his highwayman father]]]].

** One with particular emotional resonance: Jia's last words to Wu Xuan as she embraced him, before [[{{Patricide}} Xiu killed him]], were "I've come home." At the end of the story, after Mei Ling invites her mother (and Jia's stepmother) Xu Mei to the Valley, they also embrace...and after Xu Mei [[{{Forgiveness}} asks her to come home]], Jia replies, "I ''am'' home."

* RealityEnsues: Po's first battle after facing Tai Lung (in the fic's timeline) is against the Wu Sisters. Does he have potential? Of course. Is he a fast study and learner? Absolutely. Did he beat Tai Lung? Yes, by keeping his wits and being extremely unorthodox when facing an opponent who was both extremely traditional-minded and also increasingly maddened and desperate, a tunnel-visioned opponent whose thought processes were clearly skewed--when he was even thinking at all, not just reacting. But he's still just a beginner at martial arts, and goofing his way through fights won't cut it with all opponents, especially ones with a clear head. So what happens? He loses to the Wu Sisters ''big time''. [[spoiler:In fact he gets badly beaten up, his throat slit by a garrote, and nearly dies.]]

** One with particular emotional resonance: Jia's [[FamousLastWords last words to Wu Xuan]] as she embraced him, before [[{{Patricide}} Xiu killed him]], were "I've come home." At the end of the story, after Mei Ling invites her mother (and Jia's stepmother) Xu Mei to the Valley, they also embrace...and after Xu Mei [[{{Forgiveness}} asks her to come home]], Jia replies, "I ''am'' home."

* MexicanStandoff: When the Wu Sisters are holding Ping captive in his kitchen, Jia is desperate to save him because he is Po's adopted father (the sisters knew the panda's biological family, and had promised to help keep an eye on him). So she ends up putting a knife to Xiu's throat even as she in turn is menacing the goose...and then Chun does the same to Jia. For several very tense minutes the three are involved in GunpointBanter to try and resolve the situation; eventually Chun realizes Jia is right and switches so they're both menacing Xiu...but then another person comes into the kitchen, upsetting the balance. [[CharacterDeath It doesn't end well]].

* SpitefulSpit: In an utterly badass moment, Zhuang spits in Xiu's face [[spoiler:when she, possessed by Chao and [[{{Glamour}} made to look]] like [[LieToTheBeholder Tai Lung]], [[CharacterDeath kills him]]]]--not only is he showing his general contempt for her and her evil, he's letting her know he can see the truth and understands about the {{Frameup}} being arranged.

** HobbesWasRight: Ironically, Po thinks this after learning [[spoiler:about his highwayman father Bao]], but despite his ability to be ruthless and fierce in battle, he finds his fears are unfounded and, instead of this being a VillainousLineage, he too has an [[IncorruptiblePurePureness inner goodness]] and heroic nature.

** HobbesWasRight: Ironically, Po thinks this after learning [[spoiler:about his highwayman father Bao]], but despite his ability to be ruthless and fierce in battle, he finds his fears are unfounded and, instead of this being InTheBlood, he too has an [[IncorruptiblePurePureness inner goodness]] and heroic nature.

* VillainousLineage: Thanks to [[BrokenPedestal what he learns about his ancestry]], particularly [[spoiler:his father Bao]], and [[TheChosenOne despite being the Dragon Warrior]], Po is afraid he has inherited his love of battle from a place of darkness and bloodlust, making him once again NotSoDifferent from Tai Lung. But of course, since he's still one of the main heroes, [[SubvertedTrope his fears are unfounded]]. The Wu Sisters Jia and Chun are convinced being assassins is in their blood and will always make them evil and distrusted; the former has fallen into TrappedInVillainy because of this, while the latter seems to have simply accepted her lot in life/karma and does her best to [[PunchClockVillain treat it as a job]] that, while [[DirtyBusiness somewhat dirty]], is still [[NecessaryEvil necessary]] and can serve a larger purpose as long as she is [[NobleDemon neutral and honorable about it]]. [[spoiler:They both discover they are mistaken and [[TheAtoner can follow a path of heroism]], although it takes Chun until the very end of the series to fully commit to it.]] Their sister Xiu, at least, is absolutely an heir to their black-hearted mother's cruel and vicious ways, and seems to have [[InbredAndEvil inherited]] her [[AxCrazy insanity]] as well.