History Main / BettyAndVeronicaSwitch

* [[HiddenDepths The]] [[TheReveal Reveal]]: The sweet, homely Betty is actually CuteButPsycho, and the haughty, fascinating Veronica is actually a JerkWithAHeartOfGold. Archie was a HorribleJudgeOfCharacter all along, and really should run before his "wholesome", "soft-headed" girlfriend ''smashes his brain out with a spoon''.

* ''DanielDeronda'' [[spoiler: may make this OlderThanRadio]]. Mirah is Jewish, an outcast with an artistic and melancholy disposition, Gwendolene is charming, well-liked and christian.[[spoiler: Gwendolene is also too self-involved, though in an understandable ''and'' harmful way, while Mirah is sweet and innocent]].

* ''In {{TheAgeOfInnocence]], May is Newland's conventional blonde "good girl" fiancee, while Ellen is the exotic and individualistic dark-haired family reprobate. May, however, is revealed to have a highly manipulative side, while Ellen honestly loves him, and is more suited to him in terms of tastes and personality. Possibly a deconstruction of the BettyAndVeronica trope.

* ''DragonAge2'' has [[spoiler:Merrill]] and [[spoiler:Isabela]]. The former is a {{Cloudcuckoolander}} with NoSocialSkills with innocent looking puppy eyes while the latter is a [[ReallyGetsAround promiscuous pirate]] [[BiTheWay more open about her preference than the other companions]]. However, [[spoiler:one turns out to be a [[EvilIsNotAToy Blood Mage]] [[WideEyedIdealist trying to save her people]] via [[WellIntentionedExtremist consequentialistic methods]] while the other is a BrokenBird trying to cope with the memory of ParentalAbandonment and can be persuaded to fully commit to love.]]

** Happens to Santana on ''{{Glee}}''. She's usually the Veronica in a love triangle, but whenever Brittany is concerned, she instantly becomes the Betty.

Rarely leads to a ShockingSwerve. Indeed, most examples are TheUntwist, but not in a bad way, and it is always a pleasure for the audience to see the heroine / hero fall in love with the girl they wanted to win. However, if done well, it can create astonishment and chracter development and a sense of shared guilt with the center of the Triangle for misjudging the LoveInterest.

* ''In {{TheAgeOfInnocence]], May is Newland's conventional blonde "good girl" fiancee, while Ellen is the exotic and individualistic dark-haired family reprobate. May, however, is revealed to have a highly manipulative side, while Ellen honestly loves him, and is more suited to him in terms of tastes and personality.

* In ''Literature/BloodAndChocolate'', this happens. [[spoiler:The sweet human boyfriend, Aiden, has a case of FantasticRacism and does a FaceHeelTurn which leaves only the other LoveInterest as a worthy pretendant for the heroine.]]

* In ''BloodAndChocolate'', this happens. [[spoiler:The sweet human boyfriend, Aiden, has a case of FantasticRacism and does a FaceHeelTurn which leaves only the other LoveInterest as a worthy pretendant for the heroine.]]

Rarely leads to a ShockingSwerve. Indeed, most examples are TheUntwist, but not in a bad way, and it is always a pleasure for the audience to see the heroine / hero fall in love with the EnsembleDarkhorse they wanted to win. However, if done well, it can create astonishment and chracter development and a sense of shared guilt with the center of the Triangle for misjudging the LoveInterest.

* In the ''PrincessTutu'' anime, Fakir appears at first as a male {{Tsundere}}, and Mytho the Prince has a case of ChronicHeroSyndrome. They were respectively the Veronica and Betty to Ahiru's Archie [[spoiler:of course, until Mytho's heart shard was tainted with the Crow's blood and he becomes evil and potentially violent, and Fakir is seen as the friend and confident who does everything he can to protect Ahiru]].

Rarely leads to a ShockingSwerve. Indeed, most examples are TheUntwist, but not in a bad way, and it is always a pleasure for the audience to see the heroine / hero fall in love with the EnsembleDarkhorse they wanted to win. However, if done well, it can create astonishment and chracter development and a sense of shared guilt with the center of the Triangle for misjuding the LoveInterest.

*** [[spoiler:TheCharmer PrincelyYoungMan member of the GoodLookingPrivates is actually a ManipulativeBastard GoldDigger. The TallDarkAndSnarky LoveInterest has NoSocialSkills, and has a GoodIsNotNice BigBrotherInstinct approach to life while being a member of TheProudElite.]]

* It happened in the third series of ''TheVampireDiaries'' to Damon and Stefan (the former becomes more caring in some scenes, and tries to redeem himself in the eyes of his beloved, the latter gets his emotions switched off and becomes a villain).

* In ''HarryPotter'', this happens with Severus Snape (initially Lily's unpopular best friend on the verge of becoming a VictoriousChildhoodFriend) and James Potter (initially a JerkJock whom she disapproves). She then discovers that James became a LovableJock because he TookALevelInKindness and that Severus is affected with FantasticRacism.

* It happened in ''TrueBlood'', after [[spoiler:Erik's amnesia]] (which ended up turning him into a ManChild, and then into something closer from a NiceGuy) and [[spoiler: Bill]]'s acquisition of the title of King (which ended up making him a powerful authoritative villain). The first had HairOfGold all along, and the second has brown hair from the beginning, so they both ended up filling their new function better than before.

* The versions of the myth of the knight Pelleas (from the Arthurian legend) sometimes feature this. Pelleas falls in love with the lady Ettarde. She then pretends to reciprocate in order to have him win something for her in a tornament. She pushes him away when she has it, but he thinks it is all a test and comes to visit her every day. Growing annoyed, she puts him in her gaol and frees him every day. Pelleas then meets Gawain, who decides to help him by visiting Ettarde and later opening the gates, but Gawain falls in love with her, she reciprocates, and he does not follow his vow and Pelleas discovers it. Then, the different versions of the myth diverge:

* For ''WebVideo/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog'', Penny has Dr. Horrible, the sweet and troubled MadScientist with HairOfGold, and Captain Hammer, the {{Jerkass}} HandsomeLech DumbMuscle FlyingBrick HeteronormativeCrusader ''(goes into another room, cooks a sandwitch, and eats it as the insults are detailed further)'' KnightTemplar. Dr. Horrible becomes a straight-up villain and Hammer remains his extreme and offensive but well-meaning self.
* Not a surprise given the source material, but, for Lizzie in ''TheLizzieBennetDiaries'', [[spoiler:Wickham]] is TheWoobie, TheCharmer and a LovableJock with HairOfGold whose only bad side is being a SerialRomeo and a TemporaryLoveInterest who knew she never expected the romance to become serious anyway, and [[spoiler: Darcy]] is the TallDarkAndSnarky StalkerWithACrush with a terrible case of SmallNameBigEgo, IdleRich and CardCarryingVillain. [[spoiler:The audience knows Wickham is a {{Hypocrite}} ManipulativeBastard who took advantage of her need of companionship in difficult times, and Darcy is a well-meaning {{Workaholic}} with a case of NoSocialSkills, TheProudElite, BigBrotherInstinct and {{Adorkable}}.]]

* For ''DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog'', Penny has Dr. Horrible, the sweet and troubled MadScientist with HairOfGold, and Captain Hammer, the {{Jerkass}} HandsomeLech DumbMuscle FlyingBrick HeteronormativeCrusader ''(goes into another room, cooks a sandwitch, and eats it as the insults are detailed further)'' KnightTemplar. Dr. Horrible becomes a straight-up villain and Hammer remains his extreme and offensive but well-meaning self.

## Either Pelleas goes in his tent, becomes depressed, and is saved by a sweet, ethereal-looking Lady of the Lake, Elaine, who reveals that she has very powerful magical powers (and a lot of HiddenDepths when she curses who she believes to be her rival, while Pelleas has fallen in love with himself and forgotten Ettarde), Ettarde finds out Gawain's original plan and, furious with him, regrets Pelleas.

* Not a surprise given the source material, but, for Lizzie in ''TheLizzieBennetDiaries'', [[spoiler:Wickham]] is TheWoobie, TheCharmer and a LovableJock with HairOfGold whose only bad side is being a SerialRomeo and a TemporaryLoveInterest who knew she never expected the romance to become serious anyway, and [[spoiler: Darcy]] is the TallDarkAndSnarky StalkerWithACrush with a terrible case of SmallNameBigEgo, IdleRich and CardCarryingVillain. [[spoiler:The audience knows Wickham is a {{Hypocrite}} ManipulativeBastard who took advantage of her need of companionship in difficult times, and Darcy is a well-meaning {{Woraholic}} with a case of NoSocialSkills, TheProudElite, BigBrotherInstinct and {{Adorkable}}.]]

* In ''TheDarkKnightRises'', it happens between Selina Kyle and Miranda Tate, Bruce Wayne's other LoveInterest. Miranda is a sweet clean energy champion, Selina is a burglar. [[spoiler: The latter saves him despite having been TheMole, the other is TheManBehindTheMan.]]

* CharacterDevelopment (see HourglassPlot): Though character development, the inaccessible, TallDarkAndSnarky love interest becomes a sweet pile of cuteness, and the viewers discover that the [[GirlNextDoor Boy Next Door]] and the [[NiceGuy Nice Girl]] TookALevelInBadass and possibly in [[TookALevelInJerkass meanness]].

*** [[spoiler:TheCharmer PrincelyYoungMan member of the GoodLookingPrivates is actually a ManipulativeBastard GoldDigger. The TallDarkAndSnarky LoveInterest has NoSocialSkills, and has a GoodIsNotNice BigBrotherComplex approach to life while being a member of TheProudElite.]]

* In ''TheDarkKnightRises'', it happens between Selina Kyle and Miranda Tate, Bruce Wayne's other LoveInterest. One is apparently a sweet clean energy champion, the other is a burglar. [[spoiler: The latter saves him despite having been TheMole, the other is TheManBehindTheMan.]]

* In ''TheDarkKnightRises'', it happens between Selina Kyle and Miranda Tate, Bruce Wayne's other LoveInterest. One is apparently a sweet clean energy champion, the other is a burglar. The latter saves him despite having been TheMole, the other is TheManBehindTheMan.

* CharacterDevelopment (see HourglassPlot): Though character developpment, the inaccessible, TallDarkAndSnarky love interest becomes a sweet pile of cuteness, and the viewers discover that the [[GirlNextDoor Boy Next Door]] and the [[NiceGuy Nice Girl]] TookALevelInBadass and possibly in [[TookALevelInJerkass meanness]].

Often a {{Subtrope}} of the trope {{Un ReQuited Love Switcheroo}}.

* In the backstory of ''DigitalDevilSaga'', [[spoiler:Serph]] Sheffield appears to care for [[spoiler:Sera]], but in reality he's a ManipulativeBastard and regards her as little more than a tool for his own gain. [[spoiler:Heat O'Brien]] genuinely cares for her despite his hostile exterior. [[spoiler:Serph's murder of Heat causes Sera to realise the truth.]]

This can happen in two different ways :

* [[HiddenDepths The]] [[TheReveal Reveal]] : The sweet, homely Betty is actually CuteButPsycho, and the haughty, fascinating Veronica is actually a JerkWithAHeartOfGold. Archie was a HorribleJudgeOfCharacter all along, and really should run before his "wholesome", "soft-headed" girlfriend ''smashes his brain out with a spoon''.
* CharacterDevelopment (see HourglassPlot) : Though character developpment, the inaccessible, TallDarkAndSnarky love interest becomes a sweet pile of cuteness, and the viewers discover that the [[GirlNextDoor BoyNextDoor]] and the [[NiceGuy Nice Girl]] TookALevelInBadass and possibly in [[TookALevelInJerkass meanness]].

* In the {{Princess Tutu}} anime, Fakir appears at first as a male {{Tsundere}}, and Mytho the Prince has a case of ChronicHeroSyndrome. They were respectively the Veronica and Betty to Ahiru's Archie [[spoiler: Of course until Mytho's heart shard was tainted with the Crow's blood and he becomes evil and potentially violent, and Fakir is seen as the friend and confident who does everything he can to protect Ahiru]].

[[AC:Comics]]

[[AC: Litterature]]

* In ''BloodAndChocolate'', this happens too. [[spoiler: The sweet human boyfriend, Aiden, has a case of FantasticRacism and does a FaceHeelTurn which leaves only the other LoveInterest as a worthy pretendant for the heroine. ]]
* ''DanielDeronda'' [[spoiler: may make this OlderThanRadio]]. Mirah is jewish, an outcast with an artistic and melancholy disposition, Gwendolene is charming, well-liked and christian.[[spoiler: Gwendolene is also too self-involved, though in an understandable ''and'' harmful way, while Mirah is sweet and innocent]].

** In ''PrideAndPrejudice'', this happens to [[spoiler: Elizabeth's love interests, subjectively]].
*** [[spoiler: TheCharmer PrincelyYoungMan member of the GoodLookingPrivates is actually a ManipulativeBastard GoldDigger. The TallDarkAndSnarky LoveInterest has NoSocialSkills, and has a GoodIsNotNice BigBrotherComplex approach to life while being a member of TheProudElite.]]

* The ''The Summer I Turned Pretty'' trilogy by Jenny Han revolves around the heroine Belly's romances with the sons of her mother's best friend. In the beginning, Conrad was the aloof bad boy while Jeremiah was the NiceGuy. In the last book, Jeremiah has become a somewhat obnoxious frat boy who cheats on Belly. Meanwhile, Conrad is mature and studious ([[spoiler:and also gets the girl at the end.]]) Belly only saw them on family vacations in the summer so she's unsure if they (especially Jeremiah) were always like that and she never saw it or if they actually changed.
* ''{{Twilight}}'' has Jacob and Edward, reaching ItWasHisSled status. In book 1, they are respectively the [[TheCutie kind]] younger [[LikeBrotherAndSister friend]] and someone who was MaddenedIntoMisanthropy by his DarkAndTroubledPast and may and may not be a case of "IAmAHumanitarian". But in book 2, Jacob becomes a violent and confident muscular hunk who has HairTriggerTemper and CrazyJealousGuy tendancies, and Edward is the reliable boyfriend who ends up leaving her for what he summarizes in the end as IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy.

[[AC: Live Action Movies]]

* In the BBC's ''RobinHood'' series Marian had the choice between Robin and Guy, who were quickly revealed to be more than they first appeared. Guy is conservative and law-abiding (Betty) but also dangerous and a torturer (Veronica), whereas Robin was an outlaw and a thief (Veronica) but also Marian's childhood sweetheart, Robin Hood, and much more in love than he first appeared (Betty).
** It can also be argued to happen between [[spoiler: Isabella]] and [[spoiler: Kate]] for [[spoiler: Robin]]. The first may be the seductive [[AristocratsAreEvil artistocratic and morally ambiguous]] antagonist and [[MadScientistSBeautifulDaughter Angry Sheriff's Beautiful Sister]] and [[spoiler: Kate]] the [[FarmBoy Farm Girl]] who joined the outlaws, but [[spoiler: Isabella]] is a TragicVillain who tries to get rid of [[spoiler: her rival]] by diminuishing [[spoiler: Robin]]'s trust in her... while [[spoiler: the [[FarmBoy Farm Girl]]]] simply tries to kill the noble-born rival. Unlike [[spoiler: Isabella]], [[spoiler: Kate]] didn't have the excuse of growing paranoid due to years of abuse by a sadistic husband, so the line is at least blurred.

* It happened in ''TrueBlood'', following [[spoiler: Erik's amnesia]] (which ended up turning him into a ManChild, and then into something closer from a NiceGuy) and [[spoiler: Bill]]'s acquisition of the title of King (which ended up making him a powerful authoritative villain). The first had HairOfGold all along, and the second has brown hair from the beginning, so they both ended up filling their new function better than before.

[[AC: Tradition]]
* The versions of the myth of the knight Pelleas (from the Arthurian legend) sometimes feature this. Pelleas falls in love with the lady Ettarde. She then pretends to reciprocate in order to have him win something for her in a tornament. She pushes him away when she has it, but he thinks it is all a test and comes to visit her every day. Growing annoyed, she puts him in her gaol and frees him every day. Pelleas then meets Gawain, who decides to help him by visiting Ettarde and later opening the gates, but Gawain falls in love with her, she reciprocates, and he does not follow his vow and Pelleas discovers it. Then, the different versions of the myth diverge :
** A)Either Pelleas goes in his tent, becomes depressed, and is saved by a sweet, ethereal-looking Lady Of The Lake, Elaine, who reveals that she has very powerful magical powers (and a lot of HiddenDepths when she curses who she believes to be her rival, while Pelleas has fallen in love with herself and forgotten Ettarde), Ettarde finds out Gawain's original plan and, furious with him, regrets Pelleas.
** B)... either Pelleas grows mad with rage, and becomes [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast the Red Knight]], devoted to prove the hypocrisy of Arthur's court.

* ''DragonAge2'' has [[spoiler: Merrill]] and [[spoiler: Isabela]]. The first one is a CloudCuckooLander with NoSocialSkills with innocent looking puppy eyes while the other is a [[ReallyGetsAround promiscuous pirate]] [[BiTheWay more open about her preference than the other companions]]. However, [[spoiler: one turns out to be a [[EvilIsNotAToy Blood Mage]] [[WideEyedIdealist trying to save her people]] via [[WellIntentionedExtremist consequentialistic methods]] while the other is a BrokenBird trying to cope with the memory of ParentalAbandonment and can be persuaded to fully commit to love.]]

[[AC: Web Originals]]
* In the backstory of ''DigitalDevilSaga'', [[spoiler:Serph]] Sheffield appears to care for [[spoiler:Sera]], but in reality he's a ManipulativeBastard and regards her as little more than a tool for his own gain. [[spoiler:Heat O'Brien]] genuinely cares for her in spite of his hostile exterior. [[spoiler:Serph's murder of Heat causes Sera to realise the truth.]]
* For ''DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog'', Penny has Dr Horrible, the sweet and troubled MadScientist with HairOfGold, and {{Jerkass}} HandsomeLech DumbMuscle FlyingBrick HeteronormativeCrusader ''(goes in anoter room, cooks a sandwitch, and eats it as the insults are detailed further)'' KnightTemplar Captain Hammer. Doctor Horrible becomes a straight-up villain and Hammer remains his extreme and offensive but well-meaning self.
* Not a surprise given the source material, but, for Lizzie in ''TheLizzieBennetDiaries'', [[spoiler: Wickham]] is TheWoobie, TheCharmer and a LovableJock with HairOfGold whose only bad site is being a SerialRomeo and a TemporaryLoveInterest who knew she never expected the romance to become serious anyway, and [[spoiler: Darcy]] is the TallDarkAndSnarky StalkerWithACrush with a terrible case of SmallNameBigEgo, IdleRich and CardCarryingVillain. [[spoiler: The audience knows Wickham is a {{Hypocrite}} ManipulativeBastard who took advantage of her need of companionship in difficult times, and Darcy is a well-meaning {{Woraholic}} with a case of NoSocialSkills, TheProudElite, BigBrotherInstinct and {{Adorkable}}. ]]

* It happened in ''TrueBlood'', following [[spoiler: Erik's amnesia]] (which ended up turning him into an AdultChild, and then into something closer from a NiceGuy) and [[spoiler: Bill]]'s acquisition of the title of King (which ended up making him a powerful authoritative villain). The first had HairOfGold all along, and the second has brown hair from the beginning, so they both ended up filling their new function better than before.

*** [[spoiler: TheCharmer PrincelyYoungMan GoodLookingPrivate is actually a ManipulativeBastard GoldDigger. The TallDarkAndSnarky LoveInterest has NoSocialSkills, and has a GoodIsNotNice BigBrotherComplex approach to life while being a member of TheProudElite.]]