Welcome Back, Traitor: Difference between revisions

* Happens several times with [[Turncoat|Kai]] in ''[[Beyblade]]'', following his seemingly endless walk through the [[Heel Face Revolving Door]]. Most notable occurrence is near the conclusion of the Third Season, when Kai makes his return to the G-Revolutions after running around on different sides for the entirety of the series. Tyson literally forgives him with three simple words and completely forgets about Kai's [[Chronic Backstabbing Disorder]], appointing him [[The Lancer]] once again.

** And it's not just Tyson who's so ready to forgive him. The Blitzgrieg Boys are more than happy to welcome Kai back to their rankings - ''and'' appoint him [[The Captain|Team Captain]] - at the start of G-Revolution, even after he so blatantly deserted them for the Bladebreakers in the first season.

* In ''[[Slayers]]'' Xellos is tolerated as a team member in spite of the fact that everybody knows that he follows his own agenda, and will betray the party at the drop of a hat, if it suits his purposes. And they allow him to come back every time that happens, since he's too useful to leave out, and indeed it's impossible to stop him from coming along if he wants to.

** Justified in Slayers Revolution when Lina warns Pokota not to pick a fight with Xellos, because she's not sure they could take him.

** To some degree this also happend with Sai, who is initially revealed as passing classified information on to Orochimaru, supposedly to help Danzo destroy Konoha so he can rebuild it as he sees fit (they don't know he wants to assassinate Sasuke), after he pulls a [[Heel Face Turn]]. Yamato doesn't seem to mention that he let an unconscious Sakura almost fall to her death while going to meet with Orochimaru.

* {{spoiler|Rio Kurotori}} in ''[[Muhyo and Roji]]'' briefly angsts about everything that she's done after realizing that {{spoiler|while she joined Ark to avenge her mother's death, Teeki was responsible for sending the ghost that killed her}}, but {{spoiler|her student Biko}} delivers a [[Get a Hold of Yourself, Man!]] punch, and despite acknowledging the crimes committed, says everyone wants {{spoiler|her}} back.

** Because in the manga, while the group had initially been outraged at Bakura's apparent betrayal, they eventually saw good Bakura struggling to regain control, causing the evil side to fumble at a few points that saved their lives, and even joining them to defeat Zorc, and realized that Bakura's real personality was truly their friend.

* Why [[Fushigi Yuugi|Miaka]] doesn't tell Yui to go to hell at the end of the main series is a complete mystery. And in subsequent storylines, apparently they went right back to being best friends, [[Easily Forgiven|in spite of all the deaths and horrible events Yui's actions brought about.]]

* In ''[[Gundam Seed]]'', Athrun and Dearka defect from ZAFT to Orb; by the time of [[Gundam Seed Destiny|the sequel]], Dearka's back with ZAFT, though he did get demoted for his defection. Athrun, on the other hand, not only gets into the best-of-the-best FAITH Squadron, but the fifth [[Super Prototype]] Gundam, entirely because Chairman Durandal [[Screw the Rules, I Make Them|was the one trying to get him to rejoin]].

 

 

* In the first story arc of ''[[Ultimate X-Men]]'', Cyclops joins Magneto's Brotherhood of Evil and helps him blow up civilian buildings (though he tries to give occupants time to escape). By the end of the arc, he's realized what an insane douchebag Magneto is and returns to the X-Men, and never are his actions called into question.

* Thoroughly averted with Hal Jordan. He becomes Parallax, wrecks the Green Lantern Corps, then dies and comes back good. Most of the Corps ''still'' doesn't trust him. The Lost Lanterns, who he had previously attacked and left stranded, tried to kill him ''when he had just rescued them from [[A Fate Worse Than Death]]''.

 

 

== Fan Fiction ==

 

 

== Film ==

* ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'': {{spoiler|Lando. Justified, to a point, as it was explicit from the beginning that he was acting under duress.}}

** The ending of ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'' indicates that force ghost Anakin gets a similar pass for his atrocities as Darth Vader.

* ''[[Mirror Mask]]'': {{spoiler|Valentine}}, although he [["I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight|completely redeems himself]].

* ''[[Super Troopers]]'': {{spoiler|Farva}}.

* ''[[The Expendables]]'': {{spoiler|[[Dolph Lundgren|Gunnar Jensen]]}}.

** Luke also joins the Empire in ''[[Dark Empire]]''. That was initially a [[Fake Defector|plan to kill Palpatine]], but Luke ended up falling to the Dark Side for real until his sister's love saved him and he went back to the New Republic. Who never brought up his defection and time as a Sith Apprentice again.

** In the [[X Wing Series]] comics, [[Ace Pilot]] Soontir Fel, the best Imperial pilot since Vader's death, [[Defector From Decadence|defects]] to the Rebel Alliance, where his brother-in-law Wedge Antilles welcomes him. Not long after the comic ended Fel vanished; in ''Iron Fist'' and ''Solo Command'' he seemed to be working with an Imperial offshoot, but this was an actor. What happened to him has been written but is in [[Development Hell]]. In the [[Hand of Thrawn]] duology it's seen that the Empire of the Hand, a pragmatic but good Imperial offshoot, kidnapped and persuaded him to join. The same duology has that fairer, more cautious offshoot of the Empire try to recruit Mara Jade, who had been forced away from the Empire by treachery. Unfortunately the way they did this involved violence when she refused, even if they weren't shooting to kill, and so of course it didn't work.

* Edmund in ''[[Narnia|The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]]''. Granted he is their brother, and none of them are that cold yet. Also, it's pretty much shown outright that he was enchanted by the Witch at the first meeting with her. It's a fairly strong argument against taking candy from strangers, even if they ''are'' androgynously sexy.

* The ''Emperor'' has this happen with Brutus after he betrays Caesar during the civil war. Which is pretty much how it went down in real life, so...

 

== Live Action TV ==

{{quote| '''John:''' Shut up, you miserable excuse for a life! I'm sick of having you sell us out every chance you get!<br />

'''Rygel:''' I don't do it every chance! }}

* ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'': {{spoiler|Teal'c}} was once brainwashed by {{spoiler|Apophis}} into loyalty, but was reverted by a near-death ritual, and could return to duty immediately.

** This is despite him successfully tricking almost everyone prior the ritual.

** Subverted with {{spoiler|Lennier}}, who regrets the betrayal moments after making it, only to be caught when trying to make good. He leaves rather than face the shame and accusation {{spoiler|that isn't coming, as Delenn remembered his bravery before the betrayal, and realizes that Lennier's moment of weakness lasted only a moment before he tried to do right.}}

* In a season finale of ''[[Numb3rs]]'', {{spoiler|Colby Granger}} is revealed to be a spy for the Chinese in the FBI. While next season's premiere reveals it wasn't quite true, he IS and always has been a plant by the Department of Justice.

** Quark gets this treatment frequently over the course of the early seasons (before his "heart of latinum" status was clearly established)

** Roy in the first season lead the Merry Man on a wild goose chase to find the mother of a baby they found even though he himself actually knew who the mother was. Then he tried to kill Robin and almost succeeded. Then Robin quickly decided to forgive Roy. Though to be fair, he only betrayed them because he was presented a [[Sadistic Choice]] by the Sheriff and it is obvious that he betrayed them reluctantly.

* ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' has a justified example: the computer Mr. Smith was an enemy spy but could continue to act like he did before he was unmasked because, after all, he's a computer and can be reprogrammed.

 

== Music ==

 

 

* ''[[Breath of Fire]] III'': {{spoiler|Garr}}, although the entire second half of the game is devoted to {{spoiler|[[The Atoner|Garr making amends for trying to kill you on orders and trying to get to the bottom of why he was given those orders,]] even leading to him challenging his own[[Well-Intentioned Extremist|goddess]]}}.

* ''[[Breath of Fire]] IV'': {{spoiler|Scias}}.

** To be fair, {{spoiler|it wasn't really her fault, she was possesed by the real [[Big Bad]].}}

* ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]'': {{spoiler|Yang}}, {{spoiler|Kain turned and came back ''twice'' - although the second time, Edge refused to trust him and Kain outright asked to be killed if he was brainwashed again}}.

** It's not quite clear, but one interpretation is that {{spoiler|Dr. Mossman}} was a double agent from the start, so this was not as outrageous as some examples of the trope.

** There's also that {{spoiler|Mossman}}'s [[Heel Face Turn]] is the only reason Alyx and her father didn't end up tossed headfirst through a Combine portal to be brainsucked by Advisors. At this point Alyx probably felt that {{spoiler|Mossman}}'s sincerity had been sufficiently proven.

* ''[[Super Robot Wars]]'': {{spoiler|Axel Almer (only in Advance)}}, {{spoiler|Lamia Loveless (both versions)}}.

*** Well, really, {{spoiler|Judith}} more or less had a noble cause for crippling their ship. {{spoiler|Her}} ''crime'' is trying to act on {{spoiler|her}} noble goal alone, rather than with {{spoiler|her}} friends. As for {{spoiler|Raven, he}} was actually not really trying to kill them as much as {{spoiler|he}} planned on dying there, wether it was by the party's hand or the location crumbling down on {{spoiler|him}}. This was made evident when {{spoiler|while clashing blades with Yuri, Raven suddenly halted his attacks, allowing a rather surprised Yuri to slash him through the chest. He never really planned on killing them as much as he was more than ready for his own life to end; he even allows them all to escape immediately after the fight.}}

*** Also, in the latter's case, the party takes turns ''slugging them in the face''. Yuri also makes it clear that said character's life (weather they live or die) belongs to "''Brave Vesperia''" from that point on.

** He brings it in a funny but also justified way, considering his {{spoiler|'advisory' role}} up to then.

{{quote| {{spoiler|'''Gnarl:''' If you beat him I'll glady have you bac.. I mean, serve you again.}}}}

* In ''[[Knights of the Old Republic]]'', partway through it is revealed that {{spoiler|the player character is an [[Heel Face Mind Screw|amnesiac Darth Revan]]}}. Only one member of the party seems to have a problem with this; several characters are actually ''pleased'' - though admittedly that's in character.

* ''[[Jays Journey]]'' has this with {{spoiler|Frost}}. Jay Lampshades it a bit by saying that everyone always comes back to the team in games like these, except for [[Final Fantasy VII|that one flower girl]].

* ''[[Suikoden]]'' has {{spoiler|Pahn}} and {{spoiler|Sanchez}}. After you meet {{spoiler|Pahn}} again later in the game, he joins {{spoiler|after helping you out in a hostage situation. Sanchez is a spy for the Scarlet Moon Empire and because of him both Odessa and Mathiu Silverberg had to die}}. After the war, {{spoiler|Lepant}} pardoned {{spoiler|Sanchez}} for his crimes due to the fact that punishing him in any way would be a shock too great for the new republic to handle. {{spoiler|Sanchez}} was forced to swear that he would not associate with any of the officials of the Toran Republic in the future. He then entered Qlon Temple.

* {{spoiler|Jowy}} in the {{spoiler|best}} ending of ''[[Suikoden II]]''.

** In a more straightforward example, the player has a chance to recruit {{spoiler|Loghain,}} a [[Well-Intentioned Extremist]] who {{spoiler|left the King to die, tried to have you and your party assassinated, and almost caused the entire nation to erupt in civil war.}} Not everyone is happy about it, and {{spoiler|Alistair}} point-blank refuses to work with him, leaving your party {{spoiler|and the Grey Wardens}} in disgust.

** In the finale, there are different ways you can handle {{spoiler|Anders}}, depending on whose side you take in {{spoiler|the mage-templar war. If you side with the templars, you can either convince him to join you (which requires full rivalry) or kill him - telling him to leave just means you kill him later when he tries to stop you. If you side with the mages, you can kill him, have him join you, or tell him to leave. He'll find you at the Gallows and offer to help, giving you another leave / join choice.}}

 

 

== Web Comics ==

 

== Western Animation ==

** Superman himself had to go through this, as a result of his brainwashing at the hands of Darkseid.

* {{spoiler|Theresa}} was forgiven pretty quickly at the end of ''[[Class of the Titans]]''.

** In a later season, it is not only alluded to, but {{spoiler|becomes the basis of a [[Xanatos Gambit|plan]] made by Master Monk Guan and himself to trick Hannibal Roy Bean into losing a powerful artifact he had stolen earlier in the series.}}