Character Development is a great thing, but it tends to be rather subtle. The small changes that occur over time might seem like watching rain fill up a bucket; at some point the change has definitely occurred, but each individual drop might not seem like they're doing anything at first. What's a writer to do when they want to convey to the audience that something has changed? Well, they show the audience the bucket, so to speak — they add a scene that, indisputably, shows the development off, even to audience members who might not've been paying attention.
Unlike the development itself, these moments are rarely ever subtle. Being subtle is against the point of having them. The audience is told right up front that something is different, and focus is usually given to emphasize this, even if it doesn't last very long. The actual moment can be anything, all depending on who the character is. If they're an Extreme Doormat learning to grow a spine, we'll see them suddenly stand up for themselves for the first time ever. If they're a Defrosting Ice Queen, they'll be nice to the person they were cold to, and if they're on a Protagonist Journey to Villain, they might just start Jumping Off the Slippery Slope. The character is going against the previous characterization, even just a little bit. Oftentimes an earlier scene will be contrasted, or the moment might just shock the other characters.
If done right, these moments can be a powerful way to keep the audience invested in the character, and have something to point to in conversations about them. If done sloppily, then the audience might just be left scratching their heads, wondering when exactly the resident Jerkass decided to start being a good guy. The key is in timing and presentation. Reveal the bucket too early, and it'll either seem rushed or like your basic Hidden Depths. Reveal it too late, and it might come off as tacked on or undeserved. And, of course, if there's not enough prior build-up or foreshadowing, then it might just seem entirely random or inconsistent.
Because development is often based on the accumulation of little moments that show gradual change, the examples here will be reserved for the big ones, such as where the character has already changed, or where the different direction is given a proper spotlight or in-universe acknowledgement.
This is a characterization and narrative based trope, so it should go without saying, but No Real Life Examples, Please!
Examples:
- My Hero Academia:
- Midoriya's transformation from a scared quirkless kid to a powerful and confident hero often coincides with moments of him learning to control One For All. For example, his new confidence and competence after the internship arc is demonstrated to both the audience and the rest of Class 1A after he uses his new shoot-style to parkour through a city during a race. He still didn't win, but everyone watching was thoroughly startled by his change in character.
- Bakugo's journey through the story has been to develop a cooler head, learn to rely on others, and learn to appreciate and respect Midoriya rather than bully him. His ongoing change is demonstrated when he begins to adopt a more team-oriented style and proves to have great analytical and leadership skills, leading his team-mates into a cleanly-won battle against Class 1B, who go into the match assuming they have the upperhand because of Bakugo's arrogance and cruelty. This directly contrasts his attitude during the Sport's Festival, where despite having a team, he acted like a dictator and didn't care much for defending his allies.
- Yaoyorozu began as one of the top students of the class, and though she remained among the smartest, she started to lose confidence after a battle with Tokoyami, where she lost in seconds without even fighting. Her new attitude became the focus of an episode, where she had to team up with Todoroki and fight Aizawa. Despite having a plan, she considered Todoroki to be a superior hero because of his success at the sport's festival, and allowed him to take the reigns, even when his ideas began to fail.
- House of Anubis:
- Patricia began the series an antagonist to Nina, openly bullying her and suspecting her of doing things she had no knowledge of. It doesn't take long before she starts to question her hostility, however, and stands up for Nina during an I Am Spartacus moment to prove that their relationship is growing. The two end up becoming such close friends that after Nina disappears in Season 2, it's Patricia who argues the most passionately about rescuing her, while the rest of Sibuna attempts to be cautious.
- Jerome's transformation from a selfish Jerkass to a Jerk with a Heart of Gold anti-hero is slow, punctuated with drama between him and the rest of his housemates as he struggles to make any permanent changes or get past his personal desires. However, by the end of season 2 it's become obvious he's become a better person, with one highlighted moment involving him trying to get Poppy to return an item she'd accidentally stolen, despite him having been a thief in the past. She outright acknowledges this by stating that he "really has changed".
- To Boldly Flee: The Nostalgia Critic's gradual development from a Comedic Sociopath to a caring, if flawed, hero is outlined directly in his conversation with Doug Walker. Doug points out how the earlier characterization of Critic wouldn't have cared about the death of a random Indian boy or the safety of the other critics joining him on the adventure.
