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[[File:Interp_6393.png|link=Awkward Zombie|frame|<small> "Sometimes I forget that I ''kinda sorta'' totally made up [[Fire Emblem|his]] characterization for the purposes of this comic."</small> ]]
 
{{quote|''"How the smeg can a man be a hero in one reality and a villain in the next, for doing exactly the same things?"''|'''Lister''', ''[[Red Dwarf (TV)|Red Dwarf]]''}}
 
{{quote|''"Applejack, with her [[Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping|lovably inconsistent accent and mannerisms]] represents the Element of: The Alternate Interpretation"''|'''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (Animation)|Twilight Sparkle]]''', '''''[[Abridged Series|My Little Pony]] [[My Little Pony Camaraderie Is Supernatural|Camaraderie is Supernatural]]''''', "The Elements of Parody"}}
 
When a character is subject to multiple interpretations about precisely who they are and what makes them tick.
 
For example, Lt. [[Columbo (TV)|Columbo]] is most commonly believed to use [[Obfuscating Stupidity]]. However, there's a camp that believes that he, instead, is a genuinely absent-minded and socially inept person whose natural tendency to infuriate people causes them to underestimate him, therefore aiding him in his detective work. Although the end result is the same, this would make him more of a [[Genius Ditz]].
 
Fandom, naturally, loves subjecting their favourite characters to this process. They can be just for fun, or serious re-interpretations. People often like to explore alternative interpretations of characters in [[Fanfic]] form. In any case, as long as the facts are accounted for, nobody is too badly hurt.
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This trope is frequently used to put [[Draco in Leather Pants]], expose [[Ron the Death Eater]], or set someone up to [[Die for Our Ship]]. It's also common in [[Sprite Comic|sprite comics]], which often use non-[[Canon]] personalities for their characters.
 
[[Alternate Aesop Interpretation]] is a sister trope that applies to morals instead of character motivations. See also [[Interpretative Character]], [[Perspective Flip]], [[Satan Is Good]], [[God Is Evil]], [[Depending Onon the Writer]]. See [[Misaimed Fandom]] for when an alternative interpretation becomes popular, much to the chagrin of the writers. If you want to play with it yourself, have a look at [[Paint the Hero Black (Darth Wiki)|Paint the Hero Black]] and [[Villain Whitewashing Service (Sugar Wiki)|Villain Whitewashing Service]].
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