Deadly Change-of-Heart: Difference between revisions

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{{quote|''"When the cold heart of a villain softens and he turns into a good guy, the plot will quickly require him to be killed, usually after maudlin final words."''|[[Roger Ebert]], '''''Deadly Change-of-Heart''', Ebert's Glossary of Movie Terms''}}
{{quote|''"When the cold heart of a villain softens and he turns into a good guy, the plot will quickly require him to be killed, usually after maudlin final words."''|[[Roger Ebert]], '''''Deadly Change-of-Heart''', Ebert's Glossary of Movie Terms''}}


The much more vindictive brother of [[Redemption Equals Death]], where you have a villainous character who is beginning to realize that the way of evil is not the way, and is attempting or planning to [[Heel Face Turn|redeem themselves]], but is killed or otherwise brutally rebuffed, either by karma, [[Reformed but Rejected|the heroes]], or even [[You Have Failed Me|their boss]] (the latter who most often crosses the [[Moral Event Horizon]] in doing so) before they can carry out their plans.
The much more vindictive brother of [[Redemption Equals Death]], where you have a villainous character who is beginning to realize that the way of evil is not the way, and is attempting or planning to [[Heel Face Turn|redeem themselves]], but is killed or otherwise brutally rebuffed, either by karma, [[Reformed but Rejected|the heroes]], or even [[You Have Failed Me|their boss]] (the latter who most often crosses the [[Moral Event Horizon]] in doing so) before they can carry out their plans.


As a result, the character doesn't even get redemption, and they will never throw off the darkness of their past.
As a result, the character doesn't even get redemption, and they will never throw off the darkness of their past.


Less lethally, a [[Quirky Miniboss Squad]] may find they've been effectively chained to the role, and no amount of [[Character Development]] or [[The Woobie|viewer sympathy]] can free them. In this case, they at least don't die, but are still doomed to a lifetime of failure and villainy and ''[[Genre Savvy|realize it]]''. Contrast [[Redemption Earns Life]], [[Karma Houdini Warranty]], and [[Redemption Rejection]]. Compare [[Redemption Failure]], where the character actually goes clean for a while but has to revert back to villainy due to unforeseen circumstances. When it's played lethally, this trope can straddle the border of [[Redemption Equals Death]] or [[Death Equals Redemption]], depending on how close to redemption the character comes before they're offed. May be the result of a [[Last Second Chance]] offer that is later taken [[Off the Table]].
Less lethally, a [[Quirky Miniboss Squad]] may find they've been effectively chained to the role, and no amount of [[Character Development]] or [[The Woobie|viewer sympathy]] can free them. In this case, they at least don't die, but are still doomed to a lifetime of failure and villainy and ''[[Genre Savvy|realize it]]''. Contrast [[Redemption Earns Life]], [[Karma Houdini Warranty]], and [[Redemption Rejection]]. Compare [[Redemption Failure]], where the character actually goes clean for a while but has to revert back to villainy due to unforeseen circumstances. When it's played lethally, this trope can straddle the border of [[Redemption Equals Death]] or [[Death Equals Redemption]], depending on how close to redemption the character comes before they're offed. May be the result of a [[Last Second Chance]] offer that is later taken [[Off the Table]].
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* ''[[Chirin no Suzu]]'' has this happen to Chirin at the very end. He kills the Wolf, but the sheep throw him out. Chirin is left with nothing. This is one of the contributing factors to the tragedy of the story.
* ''[[Chirin no Suzu]]'' has this happen to Chirin at the very end. He kills the Wolf, but the sheep throw him out. Chirin is left with nothing. This is one of the contributing factors to the tragedy of the story.
* ''[[Afro Samurai]]'' offers a non-death variant. At the very start of his journey, Afro's [[Revenge Before Reason|obsession with revenge]] resulted in the death of all of his friends and his teacher. This is the one of two times in the series he actually show regret for his actions, but he quickly accepts afterwards that there was no turning back at that point.
* ''[[Afro Samurai]]'' offers a non-death variant. At the very start of his journey, Afro's [[Revenge Before Reason|obsession with revenge]] resulted in the death of all of his friends and his teacher. This is the one of two times in the series he actually show regret for his actions, but he quickly accepts afterwards that there was no turning back at that point.
* In ''[[Muhyo and Roji]]'', {{spoiler|Kid Cortlaw}} turns against Buhpu and leads to his defeat after learning that he {{spoiler|killed Ivy and lied that the MLS did it}}. He realizes that his allying with Ark to {{spoiler|bring back his parents}} was wrong, but is unable to do anything more before he dies.
* In ''[[Muhyo and Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation]]'', {{spoiler|Kid Cortlaw}} turns against Buhpu and leads to his defeat after learning that he {{spoiler|killed Ivy and lied that the MLS did it}}. He realizes that his allying with Ark to {{spoiler|bring back his parents}} was wrong, but is unable to do anything more before he dies.
* Yamada gets this in ''[[Highschool of the Dead|High School of the Dead]]'' when he starts to show even the least bit of concern for his family. ''The entire Orgybus'' votes to murder him on the spot (read: leave him to the zombies). In the anime adaptation, Misuzu may have regretted killing Toshimi just as the zombie mob behind her crushed her own head.
* Yamada gets this in ''[[Highschool of the Dead|High School of the Dead]]'' when he starts to show even the least bit of concern for his family. ''The entire Orgybus'' votes to murder him on the spot (read: leave him to the zombies). In the anime adaptation, Misuzu may have regretted killing Toshimi just as the zombie mob behind her crushed her own head.
* [[Mirai Nikki]]: {{spoiler|Yukkii's father}} was an all around horrible parent who not only {{spoiler|tries to break Yukkii's phone so his debt would get paid off, but also leaves his son to die, and kills his own ex-wife so she won't turn him in to the police}}. Still, he does realize that what he did was wrong and was going to make it up to Yukkii by turning himself in and finally going to look at the stars with his son...that is, until he gets stabbed in the gut ''immediately'' after he declares this.
* [[Mirai Nikki]]: {{spoiler|Yukkii's father}} was an all around horrible parent who not only {{spoiler|tries to break Yukkii's phone so his debt would get paid off, but also leaves his son to die, and kills his own ex-wife so she won't turn him in to the police}}. Still, he does realize that what he did was wrong and was going to make it up to Yukkii by turning himself in and finally going to look at the stars with his son...that is, until he gets stabbed in the gut ''immediately'' after he declares this.
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** The samurai doesn't appear to feel remorseful and the bookie doesn't appear to force the samurai into one last fight. The samurai wants to earn enough money to care for his family and the fight with Usagi just happens to be the one that would give the samurai enough Ryo to live a quiet, peaceful life with his wife and child. The samurai fights this last fight not because the bookie is forcing him to, but because he wants more Ryo.
** The samurai doesn't appear to feel remorseful and the bookie doesn't appear to force the samurai into one last fight. The samurai wants to earn enough money to care for his family and the fight with Usagi just happens to be the one that would give the samurai enough Ryo to live a quiet, peaceful life with his wife and child. The samurai fights this last fight not because the bookie is forcing him to, but because he wants more Ryo.
* In ''[[Spider-Man (Comic Book)|Spider-Man]]'' Mac Gargan, a.k.a. the Scorpion, ends up wandering the sewers at one point, depressed but with a clearer head than he had had for a long time. Eventually, his sanity starts to return, and he is about to make a [[Heel Face Turn]] when Spider-Man {{spoiler|having depression issues of his own, finds Gargan and [[What the Hell, Hero?|attacks him savagely ignoring Gargan's pleas that he had changed.]] Gargan then goes crazy again to save himself and continues his life of super-villain debauchery, first as Scorpion, and later as a new Venom}}.
* In ''[[Spider-Man (Comic Book)|Spider-Man]]'' Mac Gargan, a.k.a. the Scorpion, ends up wandering the sewers at one point, depressed but with a clearer head than he had had for a long time. Eventually, his sanity starts to return, and he is about to make a [[Heel Face Turn]] when Spider-Man {{spoiler|having depression issues of his own, finds Gargan and [[What the Hell, Hero?|attacks him savagely ignoring Gargan's pleas that he had changed.]] Gargan then goes crazy again to save himself and continues his life of super-villain debauchery, first as Scorpion, and later as a new Venom}}.
* ''[[Legion of Super-Heroes (comics)|Legion of Super-Heroes]]'': V4 has a wretchedly sadistic example in Sun Boy, a long-standing Legionnaire who'd been seduced into being the public face of the evil Earthgov. Faced with an impending disaster, he tried to put his costume back on and save the city, only to a) meet with public scorn and b) be caught in the explosion of a fusion reactor. Wait, we're not done: due to his powers, the explosion didn't kill him (actually, due to his powers [[Did Not Do the Research|the explosion shouldn't even have touched him]]; oh well); instead it left him a mangled, screaming, ''burning'' wreck. He then spent the next ''year and a half'' on life-support, in agonizing pain and reliving his worst memories, until finally he was [[Mercy Kill|shot]] by his lover/[[The Handler|handler]] (who then killed herself). That door slammed so hard it ''broke''.
* ''[[Legion of Super-Heroes (comics)|Legion of Super-Heroes]]'': V4 has a wretchedly sadistic example in Sun Boy, a long-standing Legionnaire who'd been seduced into being the public face of the evil Earthgov. Faced with an impending disaster, he tried to put his costume back on and save the city, only to a) meet with public scorn and b) be caught in the explosion of a fusion reactor. Wait, we're not done: due to his powers, the explosion didn't kill him (actually, due to his powers [[Did Not Do the Research|the explosion shouldn't even have touched him]]; oh well); instead it left him a mangled, screaming, ''burning'' wreck. He then spent the next ''year and a half'' on life-support, in agonizing pain and reliving his worst memories, until finally he was [[Mercy Kill|shot]] by his lover/[[The Handler|handler]] (who then killed herself). That door slammed so hard it ''broke''.
* In ''[[Nikolai Dante]]'', during the Battle of St Petersburg, a random [[Mook]] suddenly had a change of heart and shoved a machine gun operator out of the way to stop him firing on the Romanov forces. Immediately afterwards, Jena, unaware of what he had just done, stabbed him in the chest.
* In ''[[Nikolai Dante]]'', during the Battle of St Petersburg, a random [[Mook]] suddenly had a change of heart and shoved a machine gun operator out of the way to stop him firing on the Romanov forces. Immediately afterwards, Jena, unaware of what he had just done, stabbed him in the chest.
* A [[Star Wars]] Tales comic tells the POV account of the first stormtrooper to rush into the ''Tantive IV'' in [[A New Hope]]. Desperate to leave his backwater, dead-end planet, he murders a subversive man as a loyalty test for an Imperial officer and leaves with them to become a stormtrooper. He has witnessed horrors, committed unspeakable atrocities, and, all this time later, is beginning to lose his cold, ruthless demeanor. He wonders if he hadn't made the wrong decisions, and begins to consider jumping ship and finding the Rebel Alliance. Then Princess Leia shoots him in the face.
* A [[Star Wars]] Tales comic tells the POV account of the first stormtrooper to rush into the ''Tantive IV'' in [[A New Hope]]. Desperate to leave his backwater, dead-end planet, he murders a subversive man as a loyalty test for an Imperial officer and leaves with them to become a stormtrooper. He has witnessed horrors, committed unspeakable atrocities, and, all this time later, is beginning to lose his cold, ruthless demeanor. He wonders if he hadn't made the wrong decisions, and begins to consider jumping ship and finding the Rebel Alliance. Then Princess Leia shoots him in the face.
* In ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man]]'', Doctor Octopus refuses to help Norman Osbourne kill Spiderman. He explains that he is sick of being evil and wants to make a fresh start for himself. He also tries to convince Osbourne not to kill Peter, since Spiderman is their greatest "creation". Norman won't have any of that and kills Otto after a vicious fight.
* In ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man]]'', Doctor Octopus refuses to help Norman Osbourne kill Spiderman. He explains that he is sick of being evil and wants to make a fresh start for himself. He also tries to convince Osbourne not to kill Peter, since Spiderman is their greatest "creation". Norman won't have any of that and kills Otto after a vicious fight.
* In ''[[V for Vendetta]]'', {{spoiler|the head is shot down by the time he began to ponder about his ways and the possibility to change them.}}
* In ''[[V for Vendetta]]'', {{spoiler|the head is shot down by the time he began to ponder about his ways and the possibility to change them.}}




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* This is what gave [[John Woo]]'s ''The Killer'' its [[Shoot the Shaggy Dog]] ending, though it was a villain that did the killing rather than a hero, as the victim was {{spoiler|the titular protagonist}}.
* This is what gave [[John Woo]]'s ''The Killer'' its [[Shoot the Shaggy Dog]] ending, though it was a villain that did the killing rather than a hero, as the victim was {{spoiler|the titular protagonist}}.
* The pivotal scene of [[Gollum Made Me Do It|Smeagol's]] near-repentance on the stairs was omitted from the film ''[[The Lord of the Rings (film)|Return Of The King]]'' due to the director feeling it necessary to maintain that Smeagol [[Broken Aesop|had never been redeemable]] [[Completely Missing the Point|in the first place]]! This decision to elevate Gollum from antagonist to outright villain was challenged by the writers, so the scene was replaced with another climactic episode in which Frodo spares Gollum and Gollum almost repents, but Frodo then admits the purpose of the quest to Gollum, at which he snaps and attacks Frodo again.
* The pivotal scene of [[Gollum Made Me Do It|Smeagol's]] near-repentance on the stairs was omitted from the film ''[[The Lord of the Rings (film)|Return Of The King]]'' due to the director feeling it necessary to maintain that Smeagol [[Broken Aesop|had never been redeemable]] [[Completely Missing the Point|in the first place]]! This decision to elevate Gollum from antagonist to outright villain was challenged by the writers, so the scene was replaced with another climactic episode in which Frodo spares Gollum and Gollum almost repents, but Frodo then admits the purpose of the quest to Gollum, at which he snaps and attacks Frodo again.
** At the beginning of the third movie (in an extended scene), it looks like Wormtongue is finally about to abandon Saruman and join the heroes, giving them insight on the enemy's plan. When Saruman realizes this, he strikes him across the face. Wormtongue is so upset by this that he stabs Saruman in the back and is shot down by Legolas, resulting in yet another point against diplomacy in Middle Earth.
** At the beginning of the third movie (in an extended scene), it looks like Wormtongue is finally about to abandon Saruman and join the heroes, giving them insight on the enemy's plan. When Saruman realizes this, he strikes him across the face. Wormtongue is so upset by this that he stabs Saruman in the back and is shot down by Legolas, resulting in yet another point against diplomacy in Middle Earth.
*** Though this is EXACTLY how Saruman and Wormtongue die in the books, albeit significantly later in the time-line. Wormtongue is shot by the hobbits, though, who assume (probably correctly) that he's gone completely mad.
*** Though this is EXACTLY how Saruman and Wormtongue die in the books, albeit significantly later in the time-line. Wormtongue is shot by the hobbits, though, who assume (probably correctly) that he's gone completely mad.
* The titular protagonist in ''[[The Wrestler]]'', after dissapointing his daughter one times too many, is abandoned by her for the final time with no chance of future redemption, which leads to his final journey to self-destruction.
* The titular protagonist in ''[[The Wrestler]]'', after dissapointing his daughter one times too many, is abandoned by her for the final time with no chance of future redemption, which leads to his final journey to self-destruction.
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** Probably does not apply. While Jacen had realized that he'd made a number of mistakes, he had no intention of turning back. It's just that what he was trying to do at the time of his death was a good thing.
** Probably does not apply. While Jacen had realized that he'd made a number of mistakes, he had no intention of turning back. It's just that what he was trying to do at the time of his death was a good thing.
* In [[Christopher Marlowe]]'s ''[[Doctor Faustus]]'', Faustus begins to regret his decision to make a deal with the devil right before he dies and is carried off to hell.
* In [[Christopher Marlowe]]'s ''[[Doctor Faustus]]'', Faustus begins to regret his decision to make a deal with the devil right before he dies and is carried off to hell.
* ''[[Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows]]'' doesn't even let [[Dirty Coward|Peter Pettigrew]] get close - he hesitates for a split second after Harry reminds him of how he saved [[I Owe You My Life|his life in the past]], and his [[Evil Hand]] immediately strangles him to death.
* ''[[Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows]]'' doesn't even let [[Dirty Coward|Peter Pettigrew]] get close - he hesitates for a split second after Harry reminds him of how he saved [[I Owe You My Life|his life in the past]], and his [[Evil Hand]] immediately strangles him to death.
** Another possible example from the book would be the fate of Regulus Black, a former Death Eater who sacrificed his life in an attempt to destroy [[Big Bad|Voldemort's]] [[Soul Jar|Horcrux]] after realises just [[Complete Monster|how bad]] Voldemort was. Unfortunately, not only did Voldemort have more than the one Horcrux, but his accomplice was unable to destroy the one he did get - and because no one knew what he'd done, Dumbledore still ended up being horribly wounded pointlessly trying to retrieve it from the original hiding place.
** Another possible example from the book would be the fate of Regulus Black, a former Death Eater who sacrificed his life in an attempt to destroy [[Big Bad|Voldemort's]] [[Soul Jar|Horcrux]] after realises just [[Complete Monster|how bad]] Voldemort was. Unfortunately, not only did Voldemort have more than the one Horcrux, but his accomplice was unable to destroy the one he did get - and because no one knew what he'd done, Dumbledore still ended up being horribly wounded pointlessly trying to retrieve it from the original hiding place.
** Before it even happened in ''Prisoner of Azkaban'', Dumbledore states that Harry sparing Pettigrew's life would give Pettigrew a chance to do the same later on; [[Wild Mass Guessing|so it could be that Pettigrew was willing to let his Evil Hand kill him before he did anything foolish]].
** Before it even happened in ''Prisoner of Azkaban'', Dumbledore states that Harry sparing Pettigrew's life would give Pettigrew a chance to do the same later on; [[Wild Mass Guessing|so it could be that Pettigrew was willing to let his Evil Hand kill him before he did anything foolish]].
*** Well, maybe. Dumbledore was damn wise, but that doesn't mean he was a [[Seers|precog]].
*** Well, maybe. Dumbledore was damn wise, but that doesn't mean he was a [[Seers|precog]].
* In a true horror instance, the God of the [[Left Behind]] books continues his series-long progression across the [[Moral Event Horizon]] by rendering people who've accepted the Mark of the Beast ''unable to repent even though they desperately want to''. At one point a character tries to recite a prayer, ''any'' prayer, and can only recall the first line of "Now I lay me down to sleep".
* In a true horror instance, the God of the [[Left Behind]] books continues his series-long progression across the [[Moral Event Horizon]] by rendering people who've accepted the Mark of the Beast ''unable to repent even though they desperately want to''. At one point a character tries to recite a prayer, ''any'' prayer, and can only recall the first line of "Now I lay me down to sleep".
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** Leon Fortunato, when he is brought before Jesus along with Nicolae Carpathia, tries to repent and gets the [[Heel Face Door Slam]] treatment from Jesus since He considers Leon long since sold out to Satan.
** Leon Fortunato, when he is brought before Jesus along with Nicolae Carpathia, tries to repent and gets the [[Heel Face Door Slam]] treatment from Jesus since He considers Leon long since sold out to Satan.
* Vermin in the ''[[Redwall]]'' universe can never repent, ever. ''Outcast of Redwall'' was a particularly strong example, where a ferret raised in the abbey turns out evil, just because of his nature as a ferret.
* Vermin in the ''[[Redwall]]'' universe can never repent, ever. ''Outcast of Redwall'' was a particularly strong example, where a ferret raised in the abbey turns out evil, just because of his nature as a ferret.
** But there have been a couple cases of vermin turning out good. In ''The Bellmaker'', for example, the former pirate Blaggut ends up leading a life of peace at the end of the book. Most vermin with streaks of good [[Redemption Equals Death|realize it a bit late]], however.
** But there have been a couple cases of vermin turning out good. In ''The Bellmaker'', for example, the former pirate Blaggut ends up leading a life of peace at the end of the book. Most vermin with streaks of good [[Redemption Equals Death|realize it a bit late]], however.
* The Romulan Star Empire has one of these in the [[Star Trek: Vulcans Soul]] trilogy. Praetor Neral is about to lead the Romulans into formalizing and strengthening alliance with the Federation (as well as lift many of the restrictions placed on the Vulcan unificationist movement). Neral has come to realize the Federation can be trusted and that they are worthy friends to Romulus...but he's unable to implement any of his new policies before he's killed off, replaced by conservative leaders who take Romulus back into hostile isolationism.
* The Romulan Star Empire has one of these in the [[Star Trek: Vulcans Soul]] trilogy. Praetor Neral is about to lead the Romulans into formalizing and strengthening alliance with the Federation (as well as lift many of the restrictions placed on the Vulcan unificationist movement). Neral has come to realize the Federation can be trusted and that they are worthy friends to Romulus...but he's unable to implement any of his new policies before he's killed off, replaced by conservative leaders who take Romulus back into hostile isolationism.
* [[Glen Cook]] wrote three short stories about a crew of pirates under a [[Flying Dutchman]] sort of curse. They realize in the second story that any of them who do something genuinely ''good'' can escape their eternal wandering, and the ship's captain sacrifices himself to destroy an even worse evil -- leaving the narrator as the new captain, wondering what ''he'' did wrong that he wasn't freed as well...
* [[Glen Cook]] wrote three short stories about a crew of pirates under a [[Flying Dutchman]] sort of curse. They realize in the second story that any of them who do something genuinely ''good'' can escape their eternal wandering, and the ship's captain sacrifices himself to destroy an even worse evil -- leaving the narrator as the new captain, wondering what ''he'' did wrong that he wasn't freed as well...
* ''[[In Death]]'': In ''Ceremony In Death'', one lawyer who happens to be a Satanic cult member gets evidence shoved into his face that one of his fellow cult members has been murdered. Later, he realizes that he's been having blackouts ever since he joined the cult...and that he witnessed that one cult member murdered in a sacrifice in one of those blackouts! He starts wonder what else happened in those blackouts. He ends up deciding that he can't defend the cult leader anymore and that he should tell Eve everything he knows...only to get murdered shortly after his decision. Now that's just harsh!
* ''[[In Death]]'': In ''Ceremony In Death'', one lawyer who happens to be a Satanic cult member gets evidence shoved into his face that one of his fellow cult members has been murdered. Later, he realizes that he's been having blackouts ever since he joined the cult...and that he witnessed that one cult member murdered in a sacrifice in one of those blackouts! He starts wonder what else happened in those blackouts. He ends up deciding that he can't defend the cult leader anymore and that he should tell Eve everything he knows...only to get murdered shortly after his decision. Now that's just harsh!
* In ''[[Warrior Cats]]'', {{spoiler|when Beetlewhisker says that he's going to leave the Dark Forest because he didn't know that they wanted to destroy the clans, Brokenstar leaps on him and kills him.}}
* In ''[[Warrior Cats]]'', {{spoiler|when Beetlewhisker says that he's going to leave the Dark Forest because he didn't know that they wanted to destroy the clans, Brokenstar leaps on him and kills him.}}
* Shel Silverstein wrote a poem about two generals who didn't want to fight, but go to the beach together. They discussed it, thought about what people would say, and killed each other.
* Shel Silverstein wrote a poem about two generals who didn't want to fight, but go to the beach together. They discussed it, thought about what people would say, and killed each other.
* Cyric in the Avatar trilogy in the Forgotten Realms world has a brief battle with himself about his betrayal of his friends.
* Cyric in the Avatar trilogy in the Forgotten Realms world has a brief battle with himself about his betrayal of his friends.




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* Maury Parkman in season 3 of ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]'' gets his neck snapped by Arthur Petrelli when he realizes Arthur's evilness and rebels to try to protect his son, Matt.
* Maury Parkman in season 3 of ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]'' gets his neck snapped by Arthur Petrelli when he realizes Arthur's evilness and rebels to try to protect his son, Matt.
* An interesting case in ''[[Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue]]''. Diabolico, after discovering how little his mistress Queen Bansheera cared for her minions, even destroying one of them in an attempt to get the rangers, vowed to never serve her again. However, he was brainwashed and forced to fight the rangers. Despite knowing that he wanted to change, the rangers had no choice but to destroy him. However, in the finale, he gets another chance at [[Heel Face Turn]] by returning as a spirit and helping the rangers imprison Bansheera in the demon dimension forever.
* An interesting case in ''[[Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue]]''. Diabolico, after discovering how little his mistress Queen Bansheera cared for her minions, even destroying one of them in an attempt to get the rangers, vowed to never serve her again. However, he was brainwashed and forced to fight the rangers. Despite knowing that he wanted to change, the rangers had no choice but to destroy him. However, in the finale, he gets another chance at [[Heel Face Turn]] by returning as a spirit and helping the rangers imprison Bansheera in the demon dimension forever.
** It should be noted, however, that at no point did Diabolico indicate that he was actually turning ''good,'' he was just turning against the Queen. He himself put it that he'd come to hate the queen more than them.
** It should be noted, however, that at no point did Diabolico indicate that he was actually turning ''good,'' he was just turning against the Queen. He himself put it that he'd come to hate the queen more than them.
* ''[[Dollhouse]]'' has this happen to Bennett. {{spoiler|She's made the choice to help the team at the LA Dollhouse, if only because Echo has promised to help her get all the revenge she wants on Caroline and she's in love with Topher. Then Saunders shoots Bennett in the head.}}
* ''[[Dollhouse]]'' has this happen to Bennett. {{spoiler|She's made the choice to help the team at the LA Dollhouse, if only because Echo has promised to help her get all the revenge she wants on Caroline and she's in love with Topher. Then Saunders shoots Bennett in the head.}}
* Wakana Sonozaki from [[Kamen Rider Double]] had planned on getting away from her megalomaniac father's plans and move out of the city with her friend/ {{spoiler|brother}} Philip. Her dad [[Brainwashed and Crazy|had other ideas.]] After her father died and she was subsequently used as an [[Apocalypse Maiden]] by her father's ex-financers, her mind was so shattered that she was put under observation in a mental hospital. She finally gets her redemption by sacrificing herself so that {{spoiler|Philip/Raito}} can be brought [[Back From the Dead]].
* Wakana Sonozaki from [[Kamen Rider Double]] had planned on getting away from her megalomaniac father's plans and move out of the city with her friend/ {{spoiler|brother}} Philip. Her dad [[Brainwashed and Crazy|had other ideas.]] After her father died and she was subsequently used as an [[Apocalypse Maiden]] by her father's ex-financers, her mind was so shattered that she was put under observation in a mental hospital. She finally gets her redemption by sacrificing herself so that {{spoiler|Philip/Raito}} can be brought [[Back From the Dead]].
** Earlier in the series, Kirihiko Sonozaki's turn started when he met [[The Hero]] Shotaro and discovered they both loved Fuuto, and continued when [[Heel Realization|realizing how his selling Gaia Memories was hurting the city]] when he saw a bunch of kids sharing the Bird Memory around and suffering drug-like effects. After helping Shotaro (as Double) defeat the Bird Dopant, he tried to convince his wife Saeko to leave the city with him. Too bad for him, [[The Dragon|she wasn't too interested]].
** Earlier in the series, Kirihiko Sonozaki's turn started when he met [[The Hero]] Shotaro and discovered they both loved Fuuto, and continued when [[Heel Realization|realizing how his selling Gaia Memories was hurting the city]] when he saw a bunch of kids sharing the Bird Memory around and suffering drug-like effects. After helping Shotaro (as Double) defeat the Bird Dopant, he tried to convince his wife Saeko to leave the city with him. Too bad for him, [[The Dragon|she wasn't too interested]].
* On [[Lost]], we have {{spoiler|Charles Widmore}}. When he shows up claiming to have redeemed himself in season six, we aren't quite sure if he's legit or not. When we finally realize that he ''is'', he is {{spoiler|promptly shot and killed by Ben, though that's more because he didn't want Widmore to have a chance to save his daughter when Ben didn't get a chance to save his.}}
* On [[Lost]], we have {{spoiler|Charles Widmore}}. When he shows up claiming to have redeemed himself in season six, we aren't quite sure if he's legit or not. When we finally realize that he ''is'', he is {{spoiler|promptly shot and killed by Ben, though that's more because he didn't want Widmore to have a chance to save his daughter when Ben didn't get a chance to save his.}}
* In [[Legend of the Seeker]] TV series, just as it seems that Zedd has talked Denna into changing her ways and setting him free, she is shot in the back with an arrow by Cara and falls off a cliff.
* In [[Legend of the Seeker]] TV series, just as it seems that Zedd has talked Denna into changing her ways and setting him free, she is shot in the back with an arrow by Cara and falls off a cliff.
* In ''[[Kamen Rider OOO]]'', Ankh had been on a series wide [[Heel Face Turn]] as he grew closer to Eiji and Hina. This actually happened to him ''twice''. The first time was when he was absorbed by his [[Evil Counterpart]]. Soon, after he [[Face Heel Turn|Face Heel Turned]], he considered [[Face Heel Revolving Door|going back]], but then {{spoiler|Dr. Maki mortally wounds him. He dies after helping Eiji destroy him.}}
* In ''[[Kamen Rider OOO]]'', Ankh had been on a series wide [[Heel Face Turn]] as he grew closer to Eiji and Hina. This actually happened to him ''twice''. The first time was when he was absorbed by his [[Evil Counterpart]]. Soon, after he [[Face Heel Turn|Face Heel Turned]], he considered [[Face Heel Revolving Door|going back]], but then {{spoiler|Dr. Maki mortally wounds him. He dies after helping Eiji destroy him.}}
* This happens to Cole in the fourth season of ''[[Charmed]]''. He finds a wizard willing to take the Source's powers, thus freeing him from being possessed but Phoebe appears on the scene and kills the wizard before he can take the powers. Cole is killed in the next episode.
* This happens to Cole in the fourth season of ''[[Charmed]]''. He finds a wizard willing to take the Source's powers, thus freeing him from being possessed but Phoebe appears on the scene and kills the wizard before he can take the powers. Cole is killed in the next episode.
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* In the opera ''Susannah,'' Olin Blitch, the traveling evangelical preacher, forces the protagonist (who is not on good terms with the rest of the town) to have sex with him. Overcome with remorse, he tries to convince the people that she's not a bad person. They don't listen. He begs Susannah to forgive him, she doesn't. Then her brother kills him.
* In the opera ''Susannah,'' Olin Blitch, the traveling evangelical preacher, forces the protagonist (who is not on good terms with the rest of the town) to have sex with him. Overcome with remorse, he tries to convince the people that she's not a bad person. They don't listen. He begs Susannah to forgive him, she doesn't. Then her brother kills him.
* In [[The Crucible]], Mary Warren told the judges and everyone that she and the other girls were lying about being attacked by witches. Then she got scared and ended up accusing John Proctor of witchcraft instead.
* In [[The Crucible]], Mary Warren told the judges and everyone that she and the other girls were lying about being attacked by witches. Then she got scared and ended up accusing John Proctor of witchcraft instead.
** [[Truth in Television]]: Mary Warren did this in real life, from what historians know. She admitted that she and the girls were lying, but then they accused ''her'' of witchcraft, saying she'd joined the witches so they'd stop hurting her. Mary confessed to save herself, and "confirmed" the girl's accusations as true.
** [[Truth in Television]]: Mary Warren did this in real life, from what historians know. She admitted that she and the girls were lying, but then they accused ''her'' of witchcraft, saying she'd joined the witches so they'd stop hurting her. Mary confessed to save herself, and "confirmed" the girl's accusations as true.




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* After dueling Loghain in [[Dragon Age]], you can {{spoiler|offer him a chance to redeem himself}}, but generally the path is to decapitate him right there, {{spoiler|if only because Alistar will leave the party in disgust at allowing the man who led nearly every Grey Warden of Ferelden to their deaths live. It's worth noting that Riordan, the person who suggests to let Loghain be of some use instead of executed, is a Grey Warden himself.}}
* After dueling Loghain in [[Dragon Age]], you can {{spoiler|offer him a chance to redeem himself}}, but generally the path is to decapitate him right there, {{spoiler|if only because Alistar will leave the party in disgust at allowing the man who led nearly every Grey Warden of Ferelden to their deaths live. It's worth noting that Riordan, the person who suggests to let Loghain be of some use instead of executed, is a Grey Warden himself.}}
* Special Agent Kato in ''[[Shadow Hearts]] Covenant'' {{spoiler|gradually grows disgusted with the motives of his superiors, and shifts focus towards his own dream of having a family with the clone of his murdered love (it's complicated), and living peacefully. Then the girl is killed a second time, and Kato decides to destroy the world.}}
* Special Agent Kato in ''[[Shadow Hearts]] Covenant'' {{spoiler|gradually grows disgusted with the motives of his superiors, and shifts focus towards his own dream of having a family with the clone of his murdered love (it's complicated), and living peacefully. Then the girl is killed a second time, and Kato decides to destroy the world.}}
* It is very possible to slam the door in the face of a character's redemption (Although, not necessarily canon) in every ''[[Fire Emblem]]'', due to the fact that [[Anyone Can Die]], and there's lots of [[Strange Bedfellows|potential allies who are enemies at first]].
* It is very possible to slam the door in the face of a character's redemption (Although, not necessarily canon) in every ''[[Fire Emblem]]'', due to the fact that [[Anyone Can Die]], and there's lots of [[Strange Bedfellows|potential allies who are enemies at first]].
** In ''Radiant Dawn'', {{spoiler|Sephiran}} is so utterly resigned to his fate that the only way to save him is if you start a [[New Game+]].
** In ''Radiant Dawn'', {{spoiler|Sephiran}} is so utterly resigned to his fate that the only way to save him is if you start a [[New Game+]].
** Another canon example from ''Sacred Stones'': Glen and Duessel, two of Vigarde's generals, both figure out that something rotten is going on in Grado; Duessel manages to defect, but Glen is slain by Valter [[Curb Stomp Battle|effortlessly]] before he can switch sides.
** Another canon example from ''Sacred Stones'': Glen and Duessel, two of Vigarde's generals, both figure out that something rotten is going on in Grado; Duessel manages to defect, but Glen is slain by Valter [[Curb Stomp Battle|effortlessly]] before he can switch sides.
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* Link was going down this path in ''[[There Will Be Brawl]]'', realizing that he and Zelda were going too far to get their hands on the Mushroom Kingdom throne. {{spoiler|Then Zelda literally stabs him in the back with the Master Sword and leaves him for dead.}}
* Link was going down this path in ''[[There Will Be Brawl]]'', realizing that he and Zelda were going too far to get their hands on the Mushroom Kingdom throne. {{spoiler|Then Zelda literally stabs him in the back with the Master Sword and leaves him for dead.}}
** Zelda follows him down this road in the finale, in which {{spoiler|she attempts to sacrifice herself in place of the "not yet dead" Link. Unfortunately, Ganondorf's attack is so powerful, it takes them both out simultaneously.}}
** Zelda follows him down this road in the finale, in which {{spoiler|she attempts to sacrifice herself in place of the "not yet dead" Link. Unfortunately, Ganondorf's attack is so powerful, it takes them both out simultaneously.}}
* In the ''[[Global Guardians PBEM Universe]]'', Armageddon Girl slammed the door on her own [[Heel Face Turn]]. Ultra-Man managed to talk her down from destroying a city. The hero speaks to her with heartfelt concern about her former career as a teen sidekick to a superhero, and how no won could blame her for going a little nuts after her family was killed, and that she could get help if she only wanted it. She thought about it for a while, then tearfully smashed Ultra-Man through a building, crying, "No, it's too late for that."
* In the ''[[Global Guardians PBEM Universe]]'', Armageddon Girl slammed the door on her own [[Heel Face Turn]]. Ultra-Man managed to talk her down from destroying a city. The hero speaks to her with heartfelt concern about her former career as a teen sidekick to a superhero, and how no won could blame her for going a little nuts after her family was killed, and that she could get help if she only wanted it. She thought about it for a while, then tearfully smashed Ultra-Man through a building, crying, "No, it's too late for that."
* [[Trigger Star]] has [http://www.triggerstar.com/index.php?strip_id=68 this.]
* [[Trigger Star]] has [http://www.triggerstar.com/index.php?strip_id=68 this.]
** In Avocado's defense, that was the most competent he's ever been at anything.
** In Avocado's defense, that was the most competent he's ever been at anything.
* ''[[Survival of the Fittest]]'' has a definite example in v4, with minor player {{spoiler|Remy Kim}}. After leaving behind one person to die in a dangerzone after stabbing him and then also stabbing a battered girl, he runs into Sarah Tan, his friend from school, and has a [[Heel Realization]]. He vows to protect her, and it ''looks'' like she might be a [[Morality Pet]] - type figure... but not only is she angry at him for his actions, but he promptly gets [[Boom! Headshot!|headshotted]] [[Killed Mid-Sentence|midsentence]] by {{spoiler|Ericka Bradley}}. Damn.
* ''[[Survival of the Fittest]]'' has a definite example in v4, with minor player {{spoiler|Remy Kim}}. After leaving behind one person to die in a dangerzone after stabbing him and then also stabbing a battered girl, he runs into Sarah Tan, his friend from school, and has a [[Heel Realization]]. He vows to protect her, and it ''looks'' like she might be a [[Morality Pet]] - type figure... but not only is she angry at him for his actions, but he promptly gets [[Boom! Headshot!|headshotted]] [[Killed Mid-Sentence|midsentence]] by {{spoiler|Ericka Bradley}}. Damn.
** Lyn Burbank spends her early part of the game trying to play the game after killing her cousin, and even after she joins a group to repay being rescued from a [[Villainous Breakdown|nervous breakdown]], it eventually falls apart, ending in her [[Mercy Kill|MercyKilling]] one of the members and pulling a gun on the other one before leaving him behind, going on to return to playing the game. After she gets caught and [[Cold-Blooded Torture|brutally tortured]] by [[Complete Monster|J.R. Rizzolo]] and left to die in a burning hanger, however, she gets rescued by her former party member, leading to her finally breaking down, tearfully admitting that she's sick and tired of trying to play the game and that she just wants to go home. Unfortunately, she ends up dying of blood loss shortly after.
** Lyn Burbank spends her early part of the game trying to play the game after killing her cousin, and even after she joins a group to repay being rescued from a [[Villainous Breakdown|nervous breakdown]], it eventually falls apart, ending in her [[Mercy Kill|MercyKilling]] one of the members and pulling a gun on the other one before leaving him behind, going on to return to playing the game. After she gets caught and [[Cold-Blooded Torture|brutally tortured]] by [[Complete Monster|J.R. Rizzolo]] and left to die in a burning hanger, however, she gets rescued by her former party member, leading to her finally breaking down, tearfully admitting that she's sick and tired of trying to play the game and that she just wants to go home. Unfortunately, she ends up dying of blood loss shortly after.
** Non-death variant; Reiko Ishida, after her murder of {{spoiler|Carol Burke}} among other things, becomes more hesitant to play the game, and once she finds her girlfriend Sarah Xu, she's obviously happy. However when {{spoiler|the escape boats arrive}} she is denied going with Sarah, on the basis that she was playing the game to begin with. It ends with {{spoiler|Sarah going on the escape boat (though reluctantly) and Reiko staying}}.
** Non-death variant; Reiko Ishida, after her murder of {{spoiler|Carol Burke}} among other things, becomes more hesitant to play the game, and once she finds her girlfriend Sarah Xu, she's obviously happy. However when {{spoiler|the escape boats arrive}} she is denied going with Sarah, on the basis that she was playing the game to begin with. It ends with {{spoiler|Sarah going on the escape boat (though reluctantly) and Reiko staying}}.




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* In ''[[Re Boot]]'', the treacherous binome Cyrus was on the point of a [[Heel Face Turn]] at the end of "Firewall" after the protagonists guided him through saving the day from the [[Monster of the Week|Game Cube Of The Week]]. He was in the middle of being lauded as a hero when the [[Big Bad]] showed up and had his [[Quirky Miniboss Squad|goons]] drag him onto their side of the eponymous impenetrable wall; a couple episodes later he was shown about to be executed. {{spoiler|One of the goons set him free, but he still didn't show up again until a cameo at the end of the season.}}
* In ''[[Re Boot]]'', the treacherous binome Cyrus was on the point of a [[Heel Face Turn]] at the end of "Firewall" after the protagonists guided him through saving the day from the [[Monster of the Week|Game Cube Of The Week]]. He was in the middle of being lauded as a hero when the [[Big Bad]] showed up and had his [[Quirky Miniboss Squad|goons]] drag him onto their side of the eponymous impenetrable wall; a couple episodes later he was shown about to be executed. {{spoiler|One of the goons set him free, but he still didn't show up again until a cameo at the end of the season.}}
* Taken to ridiculous extremes in the ''[[Fairly Oddparents]]'' [[Made for TV Movie|TV movie]] Channel Chasers. At the end of the movie, Timmy's [[Sadist Teacher]] Mr. Crocker was seen coming out of therapy, cured of his obsession with fairies and decides to turn his life around. He even discovered cold fusion! Then, [[Did Not Eat the Mousse|even though he had nothing to do with the plot]] (in fact his very appearance was probably just to show he's a [[Cosmic Plaything]]), Timmy's wish that nobody remembers anything that happened from when the film began affected him, returning him to his fairy-obsessed self who tosses his cold fusion generator away because he doesn't know what it is anymore.
* Taken to ridiculous extremes in the ''[[Fairly Oddparents]]'' [[Made for TV Movie|TV movie]] Channel Chasers. At the end of the movie, Timmy's [[Sadist Teacher]] Mr. Crocker was seen coming out of therapy, cured of his obsession with fairies and decides to turn his life around. He even discovered cold fusion! Then, [[Did Not Eat the Mousse|even though he had nothing to do with the plot]] (in fact his very appearance was probably just to show he's a [[Cosmic Plaything]]), Timmy's wish that nobody remembers anything that happened from when the film began affected him, returning him to his fairy-obsessed self who tosses his cold fusion generator away because he doesn't know what it is anymore.
** Done again in the episode "Crocker Shocker", where Mr. Crocker is put under hypnosis by a desperate therapist to erase his belief in fairies. Among the changes he undergoes, he loses his hunchback look and his ears move from his neck to his head. Unfortunately, it turns out that Fairy Magic is powered by Crocker's fairy believing spazz attacks, so Timmy had to get him to change back to his old self. You know the universe is unfair when one person's sanity has to be sacrificed.
** Done again in the episode "Crocker Shocker", where Mr. Crocker is put under hypnosis by a desperate therapist to erase his belief in fairies. Among the changes he undergoes, he loses his hunchback look and his ears move from his neck to his head. Unfortunately, it turns out that Fairy Magic is powered by Crocker's fairy believing spazz attacks, so Timmy had to get him to change back to his old self. You know the universe is unfair when one person's sanity has to be sacrificed.
* In ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]]'', Terra makes a [[Face Heel Turn]] and joins Slade, becoming [[The Mole]] to the Titans. However, due to getting close to the Titans, she ends up regretting her actions, but doesn't dare to fully betray Slade, so she just tries to spare Beast Boy, taking him on a date while Slade's army infiltrate the Titan Tower. Slade tracks Terra and Beast Boy down, revealing the truth to Beast Boy. An apologetic Terra breaks down sobbing, saying she's sorry and pleads with Beast Boy to forgive her, reminding him he said they'll be friends no matter what. [[What an Idiot!|An angry Beast Boy responds with "Slade's right. You don't HAVE any friends."]] As a result, Terra fully embraces being Slade's apprentice and becomes truly ''evil'', and Beast Boy [[My God, What Have I Done?|ends up kicking himself over slamming the door in her face earlier.]] In the end, however, Terra makes a [[Heel Face Turn]] after all...[[Heroic Sacrifice|but with a cost.]]
* In ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]]'', Terra makes a [[Face Heel Turn]] and joins Slade, becoming [[The Mole]] to the Titans. However, due to getting close to the Titans, she ends up regretting her actions, but doesn't dare to fully betray Slade, so she just tries to spare Beast Boy, taking him on a date while Slade's army infiltrate the Titan Tower. Slade tracks Terra and Beast Boy down, revealing the truth to Beast Boy. An apologetic Terra breaks down sobbing, saying she's sorry and pleads with Beast Boy to forgive her, reminding him he said they'll be friends no matter what. [[What an Idiot!|An angry Beast Boy responds with "Slade's right. You don't HAVE any friends."]] As a result, Terra fully embraces being Slade's apprentice and becomes truly ''evil'', and Beast Boy [[My God, What Have I Done?|ends up kicking himself over slamming the door in her face earlier.]] In the end, however, Terra makes a [[Heel Face Turn]] after all...[[Heroic Sacrifice|but with a cost.]]
* In ''[[Transformers Prime]]'', [[The Starscream|Starscream]] gets so sick of the being the Decepticon's [[Chew Toy]] that he tries to defect to the Autobots. Note that Starscream is not in any way repentant, he just figures he has a better chance on their side. Once it's revealed that Starscream killed [[Sacrificial Lion|Cliffjumper]], [[Action Girl|Arcee]] goes ballistic and tries to [[You Killed My Father|avenge her dead partner.]] Starscream is driven off, and is convinced that he should become a neutral party in the war.
* In ''[[Transformers Prime]]'', [[The Starscream|Starscream]] gets so sick of the being the Decepticon's [[Chew Toy]] that he tries to defect to the Autobots. Note that Starscream is not in any way repentant, he just figures he has a better chance on their side. Once it's revealed that Starscream killed [[Sacrificial Lion|Cliffjumper]], [[Action Girl|Arcee]] goes ballistic and tries to [[You Killed My Father|avenge her dead partner.]] Starscream is driven off, and is convinced that he should become a neutral party in the war.
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