History Main / ConspiracyRedemption

* ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'' is an entire series dedicated to this. The titular organisation began as an extreme British-nationalist group dedicated not so much to protecting the Earth than to robbing and murdering aliens regardless of their intentions, in the hope of getting the British Empire better weapons. After the majority of the organisation is wiped out due to [[EvilIsNotAToy foolishly screwing up]] and allowing alternate-universe versions of the Cybermen to invade Earth via their HQ, Captain Jack Harkness reforms the tiny [[TheRemnant Remnant]] into a more benevolent force protecting Earth from alien threats (although still extremely ruthlessly).

* In ''Series/TheInvisibleMan'', despite the fact that Darien really doesn't like [[DaChief the Official]] or [[CovertGroupWithMundaneFront the Agency]], they don't really do anything ''that'' morally questionable (except keep Darien himself on a leash with the counter-agent; but he's an ex-con, so it may be justified). However, one episode has another government official get the Official arrested for a botched mission in which a hostage was killed and gets himself put in charge of the Agency and Darien. At first, things seem unchanged, but then the new boss tries to force Darien to become an assassin in exchange for the counter-agent (something the Official has ''never'' asked). Naturally, StatusQuoIsGod, and the Official is returned at the end of the episode.

Usually this comes as a shock to the member who first met and recruited the hero, as s/he and most of the junior officers are earnestly good people. Usually the organizations as a whole are not really evil, there are only a few corrupt members [[CorruptCorporateExecutive (usually higher ups)]] who try to abuse their power, only to be defeated by the hero, of course. After that problem has been cleaned up ([[FridgeLogic often with an astonishing lack of the organization falling to infighting in the wake of such an obvious coup]]), he is then accepted as a legitimate member with full rights to their powers.

* [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] in ''Series/{{Millennium}}'', where the Millennium Group initially helps police with criminal threats, expanding to supernatural villains in season 2. Then in the second SeasonFinale they release a souped up virus that [[spoiler: kills Catherine Black]].

%%* ''Manga/ElementalGelade''
* ''Manga/DeadmanWonderland''
** It should be noted though that ''because'' it is Deadman Wonderland, any organization that doesn't involve actively torturing someone can be considered a good thing. No, seriously. Even use of anaesthetic puts you on 'the good guys' side.
%%* Chronos in ''Manga/BlackCat''.

** ''Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion'' plays with it: by 3.0, the good guys within NERV all separated into a RenegadeSplinterFaction named WILLE and have spent [[spoiler:the 14 years of the TimeSkip]] fighting NERV and trying to prevent it from [[spoiler:[[KillAllHumans finishing the job]] in the [[AfterTheEnd post-partial-Third-Impact hellscape]] that Earth has become]]. However, their attitude on screen [[spoiler:thanks to the hatred they feel for Shinji because he accidentally caused the aforementioned Impact]] [[NotSoDifferent is just as morally loathsome as NERV's was]] in the first two films. [[spoiler:By the fourth film, they have managed to devise a method to undo the ecological damage from the Impact, putting them more firmly in this trope.]]

* ''Manga/BusoRenkin'', though without any actual evil or corruption going on - [[spoiler: the Alchemist Army tries to kill Kazuki because he will eventually become, after ''six weeks'', a [[PersonOfMassDestruction tremendous threat to everyone around him]].]]
** [[spoiler:And Kazuki actually agrees with their logic - he just didn't want to be executed immediately. He had been willing to spend 5 weeks, six days investigating possible cures, and then allowing himself to be killed if he hadn't found a way to stop or delay the transformation by that time. The Army decided they couldn't risk their estimates being wrong or Kazuki having a change of heart a few weeks down the line.]]

[[folder: Web Original ]]

* In ''Literature/{{Worm}}'', this is in the process of happening to the [[SuperTeam Protectorate]], with the removal of [[WellIntentionedExtremist the Triumvirate]] and the purging of [[NebulousEvilOrganization Cauldron's]] influence. However, many of the superheroes that were alienated by the [[IDidWhatIHadToDo revelation]] of the Protectorate's crimes remain wary and independent.

[[/folder]]

* ''Manga/BusouRenkin'', though without any actual evil or corruption going on - [[spoiler: the Alchemist Army tries to kill Kazuki because he will eventually become, after ''six weeks'', a [[PersonOfMassDestruction tremendous threat to everyone around him]].]]

Minor and major variations of this plot can be found in many different media, for all it seems to be a pretty new convention. Contrast GoodAllAlong, VillainWithGoodPublicity.

** Shinn Asuka from the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny sequel series]] is an aversion, and possible deconstruction, of this trope. His mess of anger issues [[BlackAndWhiteInsanity keeps him from seeing anything but shades of black and white]], and the resident [[TheChessmaster Chessmaster]] and his [[TheDragon Dragon]] exploit this. Shinn remains blind to their manipulations for almost the entire series, convinced that he's on some sort or righteous, world-changing crusade even when he's participating in missions that go against everything he claimed to stand for[[note]]for example: he ends up spearheading an attack on what used to be his home country. A country he fled from because it was devastated in the last war (he lost his family too), an event that lead to his own anti-war sentiments, and spurned him to become a soldier so he could ''prevent'' that from happening again[[/note]]. To his credit, he starts having doubts near the end of the series, but by then he's become so reliant on their advice that this just makes him more deranged. He does realize what's going on at the very end, but it takes a pretty nasty beating from [[spoiler: Athrun and the ''Infinite Justice'']] to get to that point, leaving him unable to do anything except watch as the whole scheme goes up in flames.

** Shinn Asuka from the [[MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny sequel series]] is an aversion, and possible deconstruction, of this trope. His mess of anger issues [[BlackAndWhiteInsanity keeps him from seeing anything but shades of black and white]], and the resident [[TheChessmaster Chessmaster]] and his [[TheDragon Dragon]] exploit this. Shinn remains blind to their manipulations for almost the entire series, convinced that he's on some sort or righteous, world-changing crusade even when he's participating in missions that go against everything he claimed to stand for[[note]]for example: he ends up spearheading an attack on what used to be his home country. A country he fled from because it was devastated in the last war (he lost his family too), an event that lead to his own anti-war sentiments, and spurned him to become a soldier so he could ''prevent'' that from happening again[[/note]]. To his credit, he starts having doubts near the end of the series, but by then he's become so reliant on their advice that this just makes him more deranged. He does realize what's going on at the very end, but it takes a pretty nasty beating from [[spoiler: Athrun and the ''Infinite Justice'']] to get to that point, leaving him unable to do anything except watch as the whole scheme goes up in flames.

Usually this comes as a shock to the member who first met and recruited the hero, as s/he and most of the junior officers are earnestly good people. Usually the organizations as a whole are not really evil, there are only a few corrupt members [[CorruptCorporateExecutive (usually higher ups)]] who try to abuse their power, only to be defeated by the hero, of course. After that problem has been cleaned up (often with an astonishing lack of the organization falling to infighting in the wake of such an obvious coup), he is then accepted as a legitimate member with full rights to their powers.

* ''Manga/TheLawOfUeki''

* ''Manga/ElementalGelade''

* Chronos in ''Manga/BlackCat''.

** Shinn Asuka from the [[MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny sequel series]] is an aversion, and possible deconstruction, of this trope. His mess of anger issues keeps him from seeing anything but [[BlackAndWhiteMorality shades of black and white]], and the resident [[TheChessmaster Chessmaster]] and his [[TheDragon Dragon]] exploit this. Shinn remains blind to their manipulations for almost the entire series, convinced that he's on some sort or righteous, world-changing crusade even when he's participating in missions that go against everything he claimed to stand for[[note]]for example: he ends up spearheading an attack on what used to be his home country. A country he fled from because it was devastated in the last war (he lost his family too), an event that lead to his own anti-war sentiments, and spurned him to become a soldier so he could ''prevent'' that from happening again[[/note]]. To his credit, he starts having doubts near the end of the series, but by then he's become so reliant on their advice that this just makes him more deranged. He does realize what's going on at the very end, but it takes a pretty nasty beating from [[spoiler: Athrun and the ''Infinite Justice'']] to get to that point, leaving him unable to do anything except watch as the whole scheme goes up in flames.

[[folder: Literature ]]

* [[spoiler: President Coin's District Thirteen]] in ''Literature/TheHungerGames''.

[[/folder]]

* In the ''SonicX'' continuity, the military organization G.U.N (Guardian Unit of Nations) was responsible for the attack on Space Colony Ark fifty years ago, during which twelve year old Maria Robotnik, amongst many others, were killed: the incident was fobbed off as an accident and everyone who was connected or suspected of connection was either killed or discredited. Leaping forward to present day however, and we find the current members of GUN (including Agent Topaz) taking in their own past agents for their fifty year old Crimes.

Frequently, a [[TheHero Hero]] (especially an OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent) who gets his powers by accident or is granted them by some other force will meet and be recruited by the Army or an equivalent which wants him to use his power for the good of the world. After a few {{Filler}} episodes pass by in which TheHero gets to hang out and bash monsters with their new best pals (bonus points for alienating their usual group of friends in the process), [[ForeShadowing several hints]] and [[BatmanGambit a few subplots]] will start to appear that cast the intentions of [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness "The Organization"]] into doubt. They will attempt to coerce the hero into doing morally questionable things (maybe [[SlaveToPR discrediting him or branding him a heretic]], [[TheEvilArmy inappropriate use of force]], or [[BroughtDownToNormal threatening to take away his powers]]), and they will be doing some ''other'' [[KickTheDog evil deeds]] that betray the mission or ethics the company once proudly touted as "elevating it" above mere [[TheMenInBlack Men in Black]].

* ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'' is an entire series dedicated to this, where Captain Jack Harkness reforms the remnants of the titular shadowy anti-alien organization into a more benevolent force protecting Earth from alien threats.

* ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'': most of the Warriors of the Organization believe that they are trained to defend humanity from the yoma. They generally run the gamut from the more idealistic (like Jean and Deneve) to those who simply regard it as a job (Galatea and Theresa) with a few psychopaths like Ophelia in the mix. [[spoiler: Most Warriors are ignorant of the fact that they are essentially a biological weapons experiment and that the Organization itself creates the yoma. Some of them who find out decide to take the Organization down for this and other personal reasons.]]

** Shinn Asuka from the [[MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny sequel series]] is an aversion, and possible deconstruction, of this trope. His mess of anger issues keeps him from seeing anything but [[BlackAndWhiteMorality shades of black and white]], and the resident [[TheChessmaster Chessmaster]] and his [[TheDragon Dragon]] exploit this. Shinn remains blind to their manipulations for almost the entire series, convinced that he's on some sort or righteous, world-changing crusade even when he's participating in missions that go against everything he claimed to stand for[[note]]for example: he ends up spearheading an attack on what used to be his home country. A country he fled from because it was devastated in the last war (he lost his family too), an event that lead to his own anti-war sentiments, and spurned him to become a soldier so he could ''prevent'' that from happening again[[/note]]. To his credit, he starts having doubts near the end of the series, but by then he's become so reliant on their advice that this just makes him more deranged. He does realize what's going on at the very end, but it takes a pretty nasty beating from [[spoiler: Athrun and the ''Infinite Justice'']], and by then it was too late to do anything but watch as the entire scheme falls apart.

[[folder: Film ]]

%%* The Fraternity in ''Film/{{Wanted}}''.

[[/folder]]

[[AC:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]

* In ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', we eventually learn that [[spoiler:the entire state military is in fact a tool for the evil Homunculi, one of whom is in fact the ''head'' of the military. [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Though really,]] he is called ''[[PuttingOnTheReich the Führer]]''.]] Idealistic members try to stop them from succeeding.

%%[[AC:Film]]

[[AC:Literature]]

[[AC:LiveActionTelevision]]

[[AC:Professional Wrestling]]

[[AC:TabletopGames]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]
* UNATCO in ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' follows this trope to a tee. JC Denton is recruited in from the start of the game under the impression he is stopping terrorists from stealing Ambrosia, a medicine for a wide spread virus. It turns out that the government is purposefully spreading the virus for their own agenda, and are withholding the cure for those who follow them, leaving the rest to die. The supposed terrorists are simply trying to spread the cure. JC is later captured and [[CardboardPrison he escapes]], and all his old friends join him if you talk to them on your way out.

[[AC:WebComics]]

[[AC:WebOriginal]]

----
<<|AnimeTropes|>>

* The Immortal angle in Wrestling/{{TNA}} revolved around Wrestling/HulkHogan and Wrestling/EricBischoff's secret plan to take over pro wrestling, [[AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs starting with TNA]] as [[SignatureStyle to be expected]]. Part of this involved absorbing Wrestling/RicFlair's Four Horseman [[SpiritualSuccessor successor]] group, Wrestling/{{Fo|rtune}}urtune, but while Ric was away Fourtune rebelled due to Bischoff {{mistreat|mentinducedbetrayal}}ing them, especially Wrestling/AJStyles and Fourtune had basically been baby {{face}}s the [[DracoInLeatherPants entire time anyway]] given their entire motivation [[AntiVillain was stopping invaders of TNA]].

* The Department of Extranormal Operations in ''[[{{Series/Supergirl2015}} Supergirl]]'' was originally founded and ran by xenophobes terrified of Superman and who were willing to abduct Kara when she was a girl. [[spoiler: After J'onn J'onzz secretly replaced Hank Henshaw, he began slowly refocusing the organization on actual threats instead of innocent aliens.]]

Frequently, a [[TheHero Hero]], (especially an OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent) who gets his powers by accident or is granted them by some other force, will meet and be recruited by the Army or an equivalent which wants him to use his power for the good of the world. After a few {{Filler}} episodes pass by in which TheHero gets to hang out and bash monsters with their new best pals (bonus points for alienating their usual group of friends in the process), [[ForeShadowing several hints]] and [[BatmanGambit a few subplots]] will start to appear that cast the intentions of [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness "The Organization"]] into doubt. They will attempt to coerce the hero into doing morally questionable things (maybe [[SlaveToPR discrediting him or branding him a heretic]], [[TheEvilArmy inappropriate use of force]], or [[BroughtDownToNormal threatening to take away his powers]]), and they will be doing some ''other'' [[KickTheDog evil deeds]] that betray the mission or ethics the company once proudly touted as "elevating it" above mere [[TheMenInBlack Men in Black]].

Usually this comes as a shock to the member who first met and recruited the hero, as s/he and most of the junior officers are earnestly good people. Usually the organizations as a whole are not really evil, there are only a few corrupt members [[CorruptCorporateExecutive (usually higher ups)]] who try to abuse their power, only to be defeated by the hero, of course. After that problem has been cleaned up (often with an astonishing lack of the organization falling to infighting in the wake of such an obvious coup) he is then accepted as a legitimate member with full rights to their powers.

* ''TheLawOfUeki''
* ''BusouRenkin'', though without any actual evil or corruption going on - [[spoiler: the Alchemist Army tries to kill Kazuki because he will eventually become, after ''six weeks'', a [[PersonOfMassDestruction tremendous threat to everyone around him]].]]

* In ''TacticsOgre'', [[LaResistance the Walsta Liberation Army]] that recruits you in the beginning engages in a lot of morally questionable deeds, including massacring civilians to put the blame on Gargastan, which leads the Army to split into factions after the first chapter. If you stay with them and take orders (the Lawful route), then when [[spoiler: Leonard kills Duke Ronway and tries to kill you, you defeat him, use him as a scapegoat for all of the Walsta Liberation Army's crimes, and unite the Walsta Liberation Army and Neo Walsta Liberation Army into a single mostly-good resistance force.]]