History PlayingWith / KnightOfCerebus

* Emperor Evulz is more dangerous and threatening than the other villains, but he is still rather comical and goofy.

** Emperor Evulz is [[LaughablyEvil completely nuts]]; the work grows darker, but only [[DarkHumor humor]]-wise.

* '''Straight''': In a work that has previously been about the wacky hijinks of a small group of friends in a [[PlanetEris crazy world]], Emperor Evulz [[KillTheCutie kills the lovable Alice]] and [[CurbStompBattle curbstomps the heroes]] shortly after his entrance.

* '''Enforced''': The author wants CerebusSyndrome to start with a bang.

* '''Downplayed''':

* '''Parodied''': Emperor Evulz is [[LaughablyEvil completely nuts]]; the work grows darker, but only [[DarkHumor humor]]-wise.
* '''Deconstructed''': Because [[SugarBowl the world they live in]] hasn't seen anyone like Emperor Evulz before, they don't know how to react. Some panic, some GoMadFromTheRevelation, and some [[EvilVersusEvil become dark and edgy themselves]] during the long struggle against him.
* '''Reconstructed''': Emperor Evulz's arrival is a taste of the reality of life outside the show's SugarBowl. The main characters understand this, know better than to panic, and end up leading the struggle against him.

* '''Exploited''': A HarmlessVillain uses Emperor Evulz's appearance and major threat level to distract away from his petty crimes.

* '''Zig Zagged''': Emperor Evulz varies from being a pathetic BigBadWannabe to an outright CompleteMonster DependingOnTheWriter.

* '''Conversed''': "Once Emperor Evulz showed up and killed Alice [[ThePowerOfFriendship mid-friendship speech]], you could tell [[CerebusSyndrome things are going to be different]]."

* '''Justified''': Because of how peaceful the world was, the protagonists were unprepared to face serious threats, and as a result are completely frightened and devastated by the arrival of the unbelievably heinous and cruel Emperor Evulz.

* '''Justified''': ???

* '''Downplayed''': Emperor Evulz and his machinations were always in the background; he's just now taken center stage.

* '''Justified''': Emperor Evulz and his machinations were always in the background; he's just now taken center stage.

* '''Straight''': In a work that has previously been about the wacky hijinks of a small group of friends in a [[PlanetEris crazy world]], Lord Cerberus [[KillTheCutie kills loveable Alice]] shortly after his entrance.
* '''Exaggerated''': The world was a happy SugarBowl until Lord Cerberus [[SugarApocalypse arrived]].
* '''Justified''': Lord Cerberus and his cruelties were always in the background; he's just now entered the main characters lives.

** Lord Penguin, an unusually wacky villain, appears to take Lord Cerberus' place as the main antagonist.
* '''Subverted''':
** Lord Cerberus arrives, and [[KillTheCutie kills loveable Alice]]. The heroes [[BewareTheNiceOnes obliterate him]] with CrazyAwesome and the PowerOfFriendship, and [[EverybodyLives even resurrect Alice]].
** Alternatively, Lord Cerberus is set up as a force to be reckoned with, but is quickly subject to VillainDecay.
* '''Double Subverted''':
** But Lord Cerberus was just the vanguard for a far greater threat.
** After Lord Cerberus has [[VillainDecay Decayed]] to HarmlessVillain status, and everyone has forgotten that he was once a major threat, he proves himself a NotSoHarmlessVillain (or a [[SortingAlgorithmOfEvil stronger, more dangerous foe]] appears).
* '''Parodied''': Lord Cerberus is [[LaughablyEvil completely nuts]]; the work grows darker, but its DeadBabyComedy.
* '''Deconstructed''': Because [[SugarBowl the world they live in]] hasn't seen anyone like Lord Cerebus before, they don't know how to react. Some panic, some GoMadFromTheRevelation, and some [[EvilVersusEvil become dark and edgy themselves]] during the long struggle against him.
* '''Reconstructed''': Lord Cerebus's arrival is a taste of the reality of life outside the show's SugarBowl. Some of the characters understand this, know better than to panic, and end up leading the struggle against him.
* '''Zig Zagged''': Lord Cerberus varies from being a pathetic BigBadWannabe to an outright VillainSue DependingOnTheWriter.
* '''Averted''': Lord Cerberus is just another HarmlessVillain.

* '''Lampshaded''': "Wow, Lord Cerberus is ''cold''. ThisIsGonnaSuck."
* '''Invoked''': A character who was once a HarmlessVillain releases Lord Cerberus [[SealedEvilInACan from his can]] to spite the main characters.
* '''Defied''': Someone in the team was [[CrazyPrepared ready for someone like Lord Cerberus to arrive]].
* '''Discussed''': "Woah, that Lord Cerberus is really kind of a major buzzkill."
* '''Conversed''': "They killed Alice! It's RuinedFOREVER!
* '''Exploited''': A HarmlessVillain uses Lord Cerberus's appearance, and major threat level to distract away from his petty crimes.

* '''Inverted''': A MagicalGirlfriend arrives to help make the work LighterAndSofter.

* '''Subverted''': Lord Cerberus arrives, and [[KillTheCutie kills loveable Alice]]. The heroes [[BewareTheNiceOnes obliterate him]] with CrazyAwesome and the PowerOfFriendship, and [[EverybodyLives even resurrect Alice]].

* '''Double Subverted''': But Lord Cerberus was just the vanguard for a far greater threat.

** After Lord Cerberus has [[VillainDecay Decayed]] to HarmlessVillain status, and everyone has forgotten that he was once a major threat, he proves himself NotSoHarmless (or a [[SortingAlgorithmOfEvil stronger, more dangerous foe]] appears).

** Lord Penguin appears to take Lord Cerberus' place as the main antagonist, and he's [[LaughablyEvil a ton of fun to watch]].

* '''Parodied''': Lord Cerberus is [[EvillyAffable completely nuts]]; the work grows darker, but its DeadBabyComedy.

* '''Conversed''': "They just killed Alice! It's RuinedFOREVER!

* '''Discussed''': ???
* '''Conversed''': "They killed Alice! It's RuinedFOREVER!

'''Basic Trope''': A character who heralds a series becoming DarkerAndEdgier

** After Lord Cerberus has [[VillainDecay Decayed]] to HarmlessVillain status, and everyone has forgotten that he was once a major threat, he proves himself NotSoHarmless (or a [[SortingAlgorithOfEvil stronger, more dangerous foe]] appears).

* '''Reconstructed''': ???

* '''Deconstructed''': ???