History Sandbox / VindicatedByHistoryWickCheck

** In 2020-21 during the COVID-19 pandemic and with many former contestants' NDAs having expired, YouTube creator Oliver Twixt hosted interviews with several dozen ex-contestants. A number of contestants were able to set the record straight about meltdowns, drama, photos and more, most notably Bianca (Cycle 9/17), Brittany (Cycle 8), Jayla (Cycle 5), Eugena (Cycle 7) and more.

* YMMV.AceAttorneyAnime SoOkayItsAverage: This seems to be the general consensus around this anime with fans of the games. Many fans point out there are several parts where the original games surpass the anime, which tends to go too fast and gloss over things, but also enjoy seeing their favorite characters animated. [[VindicatedByHistory Fans have warmed up to the anime as a whole overtime though, especially after the polished Season 2 was released.]] '''Could also be ImprovedByTheRecut instead.'''

* YMMV.AceInTheHole: Audiences and critics were originally turned off by the movie's extreme cynicism about news reporters and police officers. Now the movie is a well-regarded part of Creator/RogerEbert's Great Movies list and Creator/TheCriterionCollection. '''It did receive an Oscar nomination for Best Story, but it is very much possible that it was divisive and its nomination just barely squeaked by'''

* YMMV.AllDogsGoToHeaven: While it got mixed reviews and didn't make much money at the time of its release, the first movie has since garnered a cult following, along with a lot of viewers who see it as Don Bluth's last good movie before his DorkAge. The film was also a massive sales success on VHS, making it a staple of a lot of kids who grew up in the Nineties.

VindicatedByHistory is supposed to be about works that were initially unpopular or poorly received becoming popular or greatly received as time goes on. However, it is clear the standard needed to achieve this status is questionable at best. There are some examples listed for works that either were at least somewhat popular or well-received at release, or did not receive immense enough reappraisal to qualify as a full vindication. It seems that the requirements for a work to be vindicated are too lenient in its current state. This is especially obvious when it was established that CondemnedByHistory, when it was renamed from DeaderThanDisco, was a sister trope, which has far stricter requirements as to what qualifies as an example. When those standards are applied, it not only stopped shoehorns and misuse from appearing, but it also made higher-quality writeups necessary, which this wiki always appreciates.

VindicatedByHistory is supposed to be about works that were initially unpopular or poorly received becoming popular or greatly received as time goes on. However, it is clear the standard needed to achieve this status is questionable at best. There are some examples listed for works that either were at least somewhat popular or well-received at release, or did not receive immense enough reappraisal to qualify as a full vindication. It seems that the requirements to qualify as a vindicated work are too lenient in its current state. This is especially obvious when it was established that CondemnedByHistory, when it was renamed from DeaderThanDisco, was a sister trope, a page which has far stricter requirements as to what qualifies as an example. This not only stopped shoehorns and misuse from appearing, but it also made higher-quality writeups necessary, which this wiki always appreciates.

Speaking of misuse, this item also suffers from a bunch of it regardless of how loose or strict the requirements are. I was shocked by just how many examples were just "at least it isn't this later installment/adaptation that is hated". I knew they exist, but this wick check shows that they are almost equal valid examples in quantity. Also, it gets confused with other AudienceReactions quite a bit, most commonly CultClassic and making up a majority of the "Other" folder as well. Some of it can be remedied with the recently created CharacterPerceptionEvolution page, but others require further investigation.

* YMMV.AnAmericanTail: The film received mixed reviews when it first came out, including a dreaded "Two Thumbs Down" from Series/SiskelAndEbert. However, airings on TV and the love and respect of a generation who grew up with the film have elevated it to minor classic status, with many considering it one of the best (if not the overall best) films made by Don Bluth. '''The film did great financially and seems to have a solid Rotten Tomatoes score amongst critics at the time, so this seems to be an example of taking two critics' opinions as gospel for the rest of critics'''

* VindicatedByHistory: In recent years, thanks to the restored Assembly Cut on DVD and Blu Ray, the film has garnered a larger following of fans who view it as an underrated film that had a lot of things against it: ExecutiveMeddling, constant cuts that harmed the overall quality of the film, and backlash from many people who were unwilling to give it a chance simply for killing off Hicks and Newt or were looking for more of a thrill ride like the second film. The new recut version of the film is seen as a vast improvement by the majority of fans, who feel that this version stands on its own as a worthy end to Ripley's story. That said, the film's reception is still divisive at best with the film's many issues still constantly brought up. '''Self-admitted as still decisive, as well as leaning as more of an ImprovedByTheRecut example'''

* YMMV/AlwaysWatchingAMarbleHornetsStory: A very minor example as the film still receives flack from fans of the [[WebVideo/MarbleHornets web series]] who see it as an InNameOnly adaptation. However, following the controversial release of the 2018 ''Film/SlenderMan'' movie, more people have come to respect this film, believing it not only did a better job at capturing the Slender Man mythos to motion picture, but many also felt it had more effort put into it. Nowadays, more people see it as a SoOkayItsAverage horror film at best.

* YMMV/AfterWarGundamX:

* YMMV/AceCombat6FiresOfLiberation: To a degree. In the years following the release of ''Fires of Liberation'', very few ''AC'' players actually played the game, due to the [[ChannelHop console hop]] to the Xbox 360 that made many longtime fans seethe. After ''[[VideoGame/AceCombatAssaultHorizon Assault Horizon]]'' dropped, however, fans became a lot more forgiving. Said players and fans gave the game a try, and finding out that the story and characterization are on par with [[VideoGame/AceCombat04ShatteredSkies the]] [[VideoGame/AceCombat5TheUnsungWar Holy]] [[VideoGame/AceCombatZeroTheBelkanWar Trilogy]] (or [[SequelDisplacement the oft-overlooked]]--and [[BadExportForYou unfortunately neutered in translation]]--''[[VideoGame/AceCombat3Electrosphere Electrosphere]]''), ''[=AC6=]'' had several good things going for it: a phenomenal soundtrack ([[AwesomeMusic/AceCombat no surprises there]]), solid gameplay accompanying ''tremendously'' large-scale battles that put the rest of the series to shame, and being the last major (read: console) title set in Strangereal for over a decade until ''VideoGame/{{Ace Combat 7|SkiesUnknown}}''[='s=] release. '''Seems to be more of a case of people not getting around experiencing it rather than either lack of exposure or a change of opinion'''
* YMMV/AlexanderNevsky: A rare case of this happening almost immediately. After UsefulNotes/JosefStalin signed a non-aggression pact with UsefulNotes/NaziGermany, the film was banned for its anti-Nazi themes. When the Germans broke off the pact and launched an invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, the film was reinstated and became incredibly popular as a morale boost among the embattled Soviet population. '''Probably better fits some trivia entry I can't think of rather than here'''

VindicatedByHistory is supposed to be about works that were initially unpopular or poorly received becoming popular or greatly received as time goes on. However, it is clear the standard needed to achieve this status is questionable at best, with some examples being listed for works that either were at least somewhat popular or well-received at release, or did not receive immense enough reappraisal to qualify as a full vindication. It seems that the requirements to qualify as a vindicated work are too lenient in its current state. This is especially obvious when it was established that CondemnedByHistory, when it was renamed from DeaderThanDisco, was a sister trope, a page which has far stricter requirements as to what qualifies as an example. This not only stopped shoehorns and misuse from appearing, but it also made higher-quality writeups necessary, which this wiki always appreciates.

* YMMV.AceInTheHole: Audiences and critics were originally turned off by the movie's extreme cynicism about news reporters and police officers. Now the movie is a well-regarded part of Creator/RogerEbert's Great Movies list and Creator/TheCriterionCollection. '''It did receive an Oscar nomination for Best Story, but it is very much possible that it was decisive and its nomination just barely squeaked by'''

As for the second part, the item should explicitly forbid examples where the justification for vindication has to do with a later installment making it "better". Examples must refer entirely to elements about the work on their own merits to count as valid.

Speaking of misuse, this item also suffers from a bunch of it regardless of how loose or strict the requirements are. I was shocked by just how many examples were just "at least it isn't this later installment/adaptation that is hated". I knew they exist, but this wick check shows that they are almost equal valid examples in quantity. Also, it gets confused with other AudienceReactions quite a bit, most commonly CultClassic and making up a majority of the "Other" folder as well.

VindicatedByHistory is supposed to be about works that were initially unpopular or poorly received becoming popular or greatly received as time goes on. However, it is clear the standard needed to achieve this status is questionable at best, with some examples being listed for works that either were at least somewhat popular or well-received at release, or did not receive immense enough reappraisal to qualify as a full vindication. It seems that the requirements to qualify as a vindicated work are too lenient in its current state. This is especially obvious in comparison to its sister trope CondemnedByHistory which, when it was renamed from DeaderThanDisco, was established to have far stricter requirements as to what qualifies as an example. This not only stopped shoehorns and misuse from appearing, but it also made higher-quality writeups necessary, which this wiki always appreciates.

I think the solution here is two-fold. The first is to mandate guidelines that are identical to the ones on the CondemnedByHistory cleanup thread. To translate for this item, they would be:

As for the second item, the item should explicitly forbid examples where the justification for vindication has to do with a later installment making it "better". Examples must refer entirely to elements about the work on their own merits to count as valid.

# Simply gaining popularity isn't enough. We need to see an actual resurgence, with people knowing it was once disliked being considered bizarre. Otherwise, every CultClassic series or absurd children's film would be here.

VindicatedByHistory, I believe, has a serious misuse problem, along with potentially having an issue with the requirements being too lenient, especially in comparison to its sister trope CondemnedByHistory. I will write a proper explanation write-up, along with a solution, once I complete the cleanup and see what all the issues are.

Here are what I believe what the folders for issues will be, though I will modify it based on what I actually see.

[[folder:Misused - Actually Cult Classic (4/55)]]
* YMMV.ABayOfBlood: In spite of criticism from industry folk like Creator/ChristopherLee (who is alleged to have walked out, mid-movie, over the violent nature of it), the film resurrected Mario Bava's career in Europe after a string of flops which cost a lucrative AIP studio distribution deal in the United States. However, the film was only given spotty distribution in the US on the grindhouse and drive-through film circuit and was largely unknown in the United States due to the numerous titles it was released under (the most famous of which being "A Bay of Blood"). But after it was released on DVD, it's now regarded as providing the blueprint for the 80s SlasherMovie. A lot of its kills have been imitated, ripped off, spoofed and homaged--most notably by ''Film/FridayThe13thPart2''--but this one still retains its power to shock.
* YMMV.{{Adore}}: The album was regarded as a commercial flop on release (although still critically well received), but as Corgan predicted would happen to the album, its stature has improved significantly with time. A Pitchfork review that gave the album reissue an 8.5 claimed that ''Adore'' is called underrated so often that it can't possibly be true anymore. '''Self-admitted to be initially well-received, with a CultClassic entry already on the page'''
* YMMV.AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog: When the series first came out, many fans labeled it as being inferior to ''[[WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM SatAM]]'' due to the latter focusing on action and stealth rather than humor. This only got worse when ''[=SatAM=]'' got [[ScrewedByTheNetwork screwed over by ABC]], and syndication markets continued to air ''[=AoStH=]'' even into the early 2000s. The backlash eventually died down by the time Toon Disney and Pop UK ran the series. During [=YouTube=]'s infancy, a user named "sonicutie" uploaded most of the episodes, leading to their eventual use in various [=YouTube=] Poop, which kept the series from fading into obscurity. Nowadays, the series has gained a cult following among fans, with many even enjoying its wacky humor and fun villains. '''Uses "cult following", implicitly referring to those who like [=YTPs=]'''
* YMMV.{{Amesoeurs}}: Amesoeurs received little to no attention aside from the small following it had and nobody really batted an eye when the band broke up. Years later and Amesoeurs have become a staple within Blackgaze alongside Music/{{Alcest}} and have garnered a big cult following that asks for a reunion to this day. Neige himself [[https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1879316038767654&id=170674326298509 lampshaded it during a Facebook post]] and was surprised how the band's music resonated so well with fans.
[[/folder]]

* YMMV/AceCombat6FiresOfLiberation: To a degree. In the years following the release of ''Fires of Liberation'', very few ''AC'' players actually played the game, due to the [[ChannelHop console hop]] to the Xbox 360 that made many longtime fans seethe. After ''[[VideoGame/AceCombatAssaultHorizon Assault Horizon]]'' dropped, however, fans became a lot more forgiving. Said players and fans gave the game a try, and finding out that the story and characterization are on par with [[VideoGame/AceCombat04ShatteredSkies the]] [[VideoGame/AceCombat5TheUnsungWar Holy]] [[VideoGame/AceCombatZeroTheBelkanWar Trilogy]] (or [[SequelDisplacement the oft-overlooked]]--and [[BadExportForYou unfortunately neutered in translation]]--''[[VideoGame/AceCombat3Electrosphere Electrosphere]]''), ''[=AC6=]'' had several good things going for it: a phenomenal soundtrack ([[AwesomeMusic/AceCombat no surprises there]]), solid gameplay accompanying ''tremendously'' large-scale battles that put the rest of the series to shame, and being the last major (read: console) title set in Strangereal for over a decade until ''VideoGame/{{Ace Combat 7|SkiesUnknown}}''[='s=] release. '''Seems to be more of a case of people not actually experiencing it rather than a change of opinion'''

Here are what I believe what the folders for issues will be, though I will modify it based on what I actually see. 41 out of 55 needed wicks have been checked so far.

* YMMV.AlpsStoryMyAnnette: The anime version didn't do well on its initial run, largely due to the book version being hard to find in Japan and its themes are difficult to understand for children. When it was fansubbed, it has gotten a kinder reception and gained a sizable number of supporters for its storyline, unique drama and explaining the psychological aspects of characters well.

[[folder:Misused - Actually Vindicated by Cable or Vindicated by Reruns (3/55)]]

* YMMV.{{Anastasia}}: The movie had a decent-at-best box office showing of $58.4 million in the United States (equating to $117.8 million at 2019 ticket prices) and $81.4 million overseas, for a total of $139.8 million worldwide. This was not exactly the blockbuster Fox was hoping for with its new animation arm. However, once released on VHS, it gained a word-of-mouth following and spent over a year consecutively on the monthly best-selling VHS charts. Additionally, the Romanovs themselves were initially not too keen on the film. Over time they warmed up to it.

Here are what I believe what the folders for issues will be, though I will modify it based on what I actually see.

[[folder:Correct Use - Comparable to a valid Condemned by History example (/55)]]

[[folder:Debatable - Initial Reception not that harsh (/55)]]

* VindicatedByHistory: To an extent, the film has found renewed interest for how, in spite of its sensationalism, it captures the birth pains of decolonization in Africa during the 1960s. That it contains, among others, rare footage from events such the Zanzibar Revolution and Congo Crisis further lends it some haunting historical significance. This was further lampshaded by Franco Prosperi, [[https://entertainment.time.com/2011/08/21/gualtiero-jacopetti-the-man-behind-the-mondo-movies/ who remarked later on in life]]how the public at the time of its premiere "was not ready for this kind of truth." '''Does not discuss initial reception at all'''

[[folder:Debatable - Vindication not that strong (/55)]]

* YMMV/AlanisMorissette: There are many notable parodies of Alanis's singing style during her peak in the 1990's and early 2000's. In 2015 and 2016, she returned to the public eye to promote the 20th anniversary of ''Jagged Little Pill''. Now in her early forties, Alanis's songs from that time period still seem fresh as they did in the 1990's. '''Almost to ZCE levels. Also singing style alone may not be enough for an example on its own'''

[[folder:Misused - Actually Popularity Polynomial (/55)]]

[[folder:Misused - Actually And You Thought It Would Fail (/55)]]
* YMMV.AKB48 Both Rino Sashihara and Minami Minegishi were "demoted" from their regular positions in AKB due to scandal--but LOOK WHERE THEY ARE NOW.
** Rino Sashihara was sent to [=HKT48=] in 2012, which was the then-newest sister group only in its second year. Many thought this to be like an "exile", but Sashihara utilized her seniority and experience to help mentor the young HKT members, as well as promoting them on TV shows and other media. In the 2013 General Election, she pulled a DarkHorseVictory and '''won first place''', beating Yuko Oshima and Mayu Watanabe! She also shares a concurrent post as a theater manager for HKT. After graduation, she is one of a handful of members who consistently remain in the public consciousness.
** Minami Minegishi, a first generation member, was demoted to Kenkyuusei in 2013, and it didn't help that her public apology in which [[TraumaticHaircut she shaved her head]] sparked a controversy that even reached international news outlets. But like Sashihara, Minegishi was put in a unique position to be a mentor to the Kenkyuusei, who were made up of the newest and youngest generations of AKB members. This allowed the group to polish their skills and coalesce into a performing team that would attract more interest in fans wanting to see their theater shows. In August 2013, the 13th and 14th generations were all promoted to Team 4, with Minegishi as team captain. Their first original song as a team, "Seijun Philosophy", ranked #1 at the 2014 Request Hour. Minegishi stayed as captain of Team 4 until 2015, when she became captain of Team K. She was later replaced as captain by former Minegishi Team 4 member Haruka Komiyama, and stayed on that team until her graduation in 2021.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Misused - Actually Cult Classic (/55)]]
* YMMV.ABayOfBlood: In spite of criticism from industry folk like Creator/ChristopherLee (who is alleged to have walked out, mid-movie, over the violent nature of it), the film resurrected Mario Bava's career in Europe after a string of flops which cost a lucrative AIP studio distribution deal in the United States. However, the film was only given spotty distribution in the US on the grindhouse and drive-through film circuit and was largely unknown in the United States due to the numerous titles it was released under (the most famous of which being "A Bay of Blood"). But after it was released on DVD, it's now regarded as providing the blueprint for the 80s SlasherMovie. A lot of its kills have been imitated, ripped off, spoofed and homaged--most notably by ''Film/FridayThe13thPart2''--but this one still retains its power to shock.
* YMMV.{{Adore}}: The album was regarded as a commercial flop on release (although still critically well received), but as Corgan predicted would happen to the album, its stature has improved significantly with time. A Pitchfork review that gave the album reissue an 8.5 claimed that ''Adore'' is called underrated so often that it can't possibly be true anymore. '''Self-admitted to be initially well-received, with a CultClassic entry already on the page'''
* YMMV.AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog: When the series first came out, many fans labeled it as being inferior to ''[[WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM SatAM]]'' due to the latter focusing on action and stealth rather than humor. This only got worse when ''[=SatAM=]'' got [[ScrewedByTheNetwork screwed over by ABC]], and syndication markets continued to air ''[=AoStH=]'' even into the early 2000s. The backlash eventually died down by the time Toon Disney and Pop UK ran the series. During [=YouTube=]'s infancy, a user named "sonicutie" uploaded most of the episodes, leading to their eventual use in various [=YouTube=] Poop, which kept the series from fading into obscurity. Nowadays, the series has gained a cult following among fans, with many even enjoying its wacky humor and fun villains. '''Uses "cult following", implicitly referring to those who like [=YTPs=]'''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Misused - Stealth Complaining about a later work (/55)]]

[[folder:Misused - Actually Vindicated by Cable or Vindicated by Reruns (/55)]]

[[folder:Misused - ZCE]]

[[folder:Misused - Other/Unsorted (/55)]]

* YMMV.AGoofyMovie: The film was considered a B-movie in the eyes of Disney, except for Jeffrey Katzenberg, who championed it. The studio gave the film a smaller budget, compared to the studio's other animated works. Most of the animation was outsourced, which is why it isn't considered part of the Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon. When Katzenberg left Disney in 1994, the studio released it with a half-hearted marketing campaign. The film was a modest hit commercially and critics were mixed on it. While it made enough money on video to ensure [[WesternAnimation/AnExtremelyGoofyMovie a direct-to-DVD sequel]], the movie faded into semi-obscurity for a number of years. However, the film had attained a cult following among those who grew up watching the film on VHS and appreciated its warmth, humor, characters, and its soundtrack. The film's cult status grew and by the time ''A Goofy Movie'' hit its 20th anniversary in 2015, Disney was willing to acknowledge the film's existence for the first time in many years and now regularly mentions it in social media posts. '''However, there are bits of AndYouThoughtIWouldFail and PopularityPolynomial that obscure this otherwise valid example.'''

** Also, what might have helped was the revelation that Kubrick was largely responsible for the film's ending, and Spielberg did his best to incorporate it. Truth be told, it really was an ambitious project between two very different directors, as well as a heartwarming sendoff from one friend to another. '''Reviews were largely positive, even if not widespread acclaim, upon release. Much of the vindication seems to regard the ending, which I don't know is enough to constitute an example.'''

[[folder:Misused - Actually And You Thought I Would Fail (/55)]]

[[folder:Misused - Stealth Complaining about a later work (/55)]]

[[folder:Misused - Actually Vindicated by Cable or Vindicated by Reruns (/55)]]

[[folder:Misused - Other/Unsorted (/55)]]