Belated Backstory: Difference between revisions

What separates [['''Belated Backstory]]''' from normal [[Character Development]] is that this change in characterization happens without warning and little justification from what had already been shown of that character. However, since it usually occurs early on in a series, it's often accepted by fans as a needed [[Retool]] to change the character along with the not yet solidified flow of a new series. Really, just mix and match from the [[Backstory Index]].

This phenomenon is not really [[Character Derailment]], as producers often state that they just didn't know the character back then, and a more complex and interesting character usually arises from [[Retool|retoolingretool]]ing of the initially more [[Flat Character|flat portrayal]], instead of the other way around (though not always).

This happens a lot in [[Web Comic|webcomics]]s when attempting [[Cerebus Syndrome]], to overcome a previously [[Flat Character|flat cast]]. See also [[Divergent Character Evolution]].

* This happen in the last episode of the first season of ''[[SeitokaiStudent noCouncil's IchizonDiscretion]]'' to the main character Ken Sugisaki, as he explains to the in-story defictionalized Nakameguro how he got to be where he was (a [[Harem Seeker]] in the besides him all-girl student council): {{spoiler|after two-timing two girls, he became a social outcast in his old school. After switching schools, he met Kurimu, who inspired him to make everybody around him happy, Minatsu, who told him to seek his own strenghtstrength instead of just looking up to her, Chizuru shared mutual comfort with him when they were at their low-point and Mafuyu who saved him from freezing to death. This made him fall in love with each one of them, so to be with them, he became the valedictorian to occupy the last seat of the student council, into which the girls were recently voted.}} Cue the first episode and the first words he said to them as a group.: That he loved them all and would make them all happy in his harem. Since the entire series was more of a screwball comedy, this was a [[Tropes Are Not Bad|most memorable ending]]. The first episode of the second season puts Ken in the spotlight again, showing how he went from a slacker student to having the best combined-test score in the school, {{spoiler|tied with the most studious student in the school, who willingly steps aside to let Ken have the student council seat.}}

* The Patrician in the first ''[[Discworld]]'' book is portrayed as a fat, jewel-encrusted glutton, but later becomes an extremely spartan person who eats only bread and water and has a figure to match. Since the difference is so drastic, and it is several years in-story before the Patrician is given a name, many fans just assumed they were different men until [[Word of God]] said otherwise.

** A subtler example of this trope in [[Discworld]] might be the Senior Wrangler, who started out as being functionally indistinguishable from his colleagues, the Lecturer in Recent Runes and the Chair of Indefinite Studies. As of ''[[Discworld (Literature)/Hogfather|Hogfather]]'' and ''[[Discworld (Literature)/The Last Continent|The Last Continent]]'', he's ''still'' largely interchangeable with them, except that he's fallen in love on at least two occasions. ''[[Discworld (Literature)/Hogfather|Hogfather]]'' also gave him a working class background for some [[Slobs Versus Snobs]] rivalry with the Dean, but this seems to have fallen by the wayside since.

** Death's daughter Ysabell in ''[[Discworld (Literature)/The Light Fantastic|The Light Fantastic]]'' is a psycho with a scythe. By ''[[Discworld (Literature)/Mort|Mort]]'' she's a lot less insane, though still desperate for company.

* Yellowfang from ''[[Warrior Cats (Literature)|Warrior Cats]]'' doesn't have her backstory explained until the second book, and her characterization changes to reflect it afterward.

== [[Live -Action TelevisionTV]] ==

* Harmony Kendall from ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' is an interesting case: in her earlier appearances her main defining trait was her meanness, especially when she took over leadership of the [[Girl Posse|Cordettes]] from Cordelia. After becoming a vampire her (considerably expanded) role focused mostly on her [[Dumb Blonde|stupidity]] and clinginess instead. In fact, aside from the whole bloodsucking, no problems with killing thing, she actually became [[Affably Evil|far less obnoxious]]. This was taken even further when she started appearing on ''[[Angel (TV)|Angel]]'' and developed into a likable, if highly incompetent ally of the good guys. Even her rather ineffectual betrayal at the end is done without rancour on either side (Angel actually counted on her betraying him as part of his plan, and writes her a letter of recommendation).

* The back-story of Big Boss, Solid Snake's nemesis in the MSX ''[[Metal Gear]]'', was not fully fleshed out until ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]'', transforming what was a two-dimensional 8-bit villain into a tragic hero.

* While Bob from ''[[Re BootReBoot]]'' was a very popular and interesting character, some fans quickly caught on to small changes to his personality to better fit the backstory revealed in season 4. That could partially be blamed on the three -plus years between seasons.

** Specifically, during season 4, Bob adamantly believed that viruses could be cured rather than merely [[Never Say "Die"|deleted]] and that "deletion" should be avoided at all costs. This initially seemed like [[Character Development]], but then multiple flashbacks during that same season made it clear that he had always been that way, even though he had made several genuine attempts to kill [[Big Bad|Megabyte]] in earlier seasons.

* Ralph Wiggum from ''[[The Simpsons]]'' went from a generic classmate of Lisa's to [[The Ditz]] and [[Cloudcuckoolander]].

** This is discussed several times in ''Futurama''{{'}}s notoriously good DVD commentaries, more from the angle of 'why did Hermes start hating Zoidberg'

** His lastestlatest{{when}} backstory shows he was an MD and was even competent, until {{spoiler|a Yeti tried to crack his head open}}.