Redemption Earns Life: Difference between revisions

While the [[What Measure Is a Mook?|rest of the enemy army]] and their evil bosses meet their [[Hoist By His Own Petard|timely end]], those who repented survived. They may get upgraded to [[Mauve Shirt]], put in the teams roster, or just allowed to go on their way and live a normal life. Whatever the case, they've effectively redeemed themselves, done good, and lived to tell about it.

If a villain ever accepts the heroes [[Last Second Chance]], this is likely the result. Also is often what leads to [[The Atoner]]. This is no guarantee of [[Sudden Sequel Death Syndrome|surviving in a sequel]], however. Contrast [[Villains Dying Grace|Villain's Dying Grace]]. See also [[Screw This, I'm Outta Here]], which often has similar results while requiring much less of a commitment. See also [[In Love With the Mark]], which can save a hitman and target's life.

{{examples|Examples}}

* Rahab was a prostitute living in the city of Jericho at the time that the Israelites, under the leadership of Joshua, were coming in to conquer it. Joshua sent spies ahead to scout it out; they found refuge in Rahab's house, even though she knew full well what they were up to. (Joshua 2) Because of this, Rahab (and her family) was spared during [[Kill 'Em All|the eventual judgement]]. In fact, she is mentioned as one of the ''ancestors of Jesus''. (Matt 1:5)

* [[Dungeons and Dragons]] introduced an unusual variant of this in ''Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells'' with the Hellbred race: a villainous character who discovered the error of their ways and [[Heel Face Turn|had a true change of heart]] just before dying, [[Redemption Equals Death|but did not have time to seek true redemption]] and thus earn an afterlife in the Good or Neutral realms. The planes end up temporarily and quietly warring over their soul, a process known as The Scourging, before the person reincarnates as a Hellbred with [[Laser -Guided Amnesia|their memories blurred, muffled, or erased outright]]. They then have a chance to live life anew and possibly earn themselves a better fate... though if they don't do something to get [[Powers That Be|an entity of sufficient power]] to support them Hell will claim their souls anyway. Still, it's a chance they wouldn't have otherwise.

* ''[[American Dragon Jake Long]]'' does this with the Huntsclan. When [[Dating Catwoman|Rose]] wishes that the entire clan was destroyed, she is saved by [[The Hero|Jake]], which is a normal version of this trope. However, [[Mauve Shirt|Huntsboys 88 and 89]] get this [[Exaggerated Trope|a bit more directly]]: once they hear Rose's wish they [[Genre Savvy|immediately throw down their weapons]] [[Screw This, I'm Outta Here|and declare that they quit]], and the spell passes them by harmlessly.