History Main / HeelRaceTurn

* The Lurkers are brutish {{Mooks}} in the first ''Franchise/JakAndDaxter''; in the second game, they're... not necessarily good so much as oppressed. Brutter and the Lurkers he asks you to save seem pretty grateful, at any rate.

** While they slide back or waver a couple of times, the Klingons go from one of the Federation's main enemies in [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries the original series]] to long-standing allies in ''[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration The Next Generation]]''. This was initially an off-screen change until ''Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry'' showed the beginning of the shift. ''[=DS9=]'', however, turns it into a [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor Heel Race Revolving Door]] when the Klingons invade a newly democratic Cardassia (on the false impression that the overthrow of the Cardassian military dictatorship = Dominion infiltration, [[spoiler:an impression planted by the Dominion itself as it turns out]]) and then declare war on the Federation after the latter tells them to knock it off and provides asylum to the new Cardassian government. They then come running back to the Federation with their tails between their legs after the Cardassians [[NiceJobBreakingItHero join the Dominion]] in season 5.

** There is also Gerudo tribe. In ''Ocarina of Time'', they're technically subjects of the King of Hyrule, but their allegiances are more toward [[BigBad Ganondorf]], and they are portrayed as a bunch of fierce DesertBandits who kidnap Hylians. Once Link raids their fortress to save the carpenters and defeats [[TheDragon Twinrova]], however, he quickly earns their respect. By the time of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', they're portrayed as being as nice as any of the other races of Hyrule.

** Confirmed in ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', where [[spoiler:firebenders and Fire Nation citizens]] are actually something of a minority among the villains even though EqualOpportunityEvil is in full effect, while [[spoiler:Fire Nation]] royalty is at least sympathetic to the protagonists even if they can't interfere in that particular incident. [[spoiler:Hiroshi Sato is Fire Nation-descended and P'li is a combustion-bender, but Amon, Unalaq, Tarrlok, Ming-Hua and Varrick are all from the Water Tribes, Zaheer is a non-bender turned airbender of unknown background, and Gazeer and Kuvira are earthbenders. Meanwhile, General Iroh - a prince of the Fire Nation - leads a United Republic fleet to Republic City's aid in the first season cliffhanger, the Fire Nation is as willing as any other to keep the Red Lotus imprisoned until Zaheer sets them free, and Fire Lord Izumi only refuses to intercede in the Earth Empire incident because she's worried about the appearance of the Fire Nation once again engaging in large-scale military action.]]

** Confirmed in ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', where [[spoiler:firebenders and Fire Nation citizens]] are actually something of a minority among the villains even though EqualOpportunityEvil is in full effect, while [[spoiler:Fire Nation]] royalty is at least sympathetic to the protagonists even if they can't interfere in that particular incident. [[spoiler:Hiroshi Sato is Fire Nation-descended and P'li is a combustion-bender, but Amon, Unalaq, Tarrlok, Ming-Hua and Varrick are all from the Water Tribes, Zaheer is a non-bender of unknown background, and Gazeer and Kuvira are earthbenders. Meanwhile, General Iroh - a prince of the Fire Nation - leads a United Republic fleet to Republic City's aid in the first season cliffhanger, the Fire Nation is as willing as any other to keep the Red Lotus imprisoned until Zaheer sets them free, and Fire Lord Izumi only refuses to intercede in the Earth Empire incident because she's worried about the appearance of the Fire Nation once again engaging in large-scale military action.]]

* Early in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrolls'' franchise, Orcs were a random enemy. They have since risen to the status of potential playable characters and citizens of TheEmpire after a CosmicRetcon in the end of ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall''.

* [[spoiler:The Changelings]] in the sixth season finale of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', upon realizing that [[spoiler:they can survive by ''sharing'' love instead of ''stealing'' it and constantly starving. They quickly follow the example of Thorax, ''and'' make up for their earlier kidnapping of the Royal Family and Elements of Harmony as well by freeing them with the destruction of Chrysalis' throne. [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Queen Chrysalis]] is the only one seen to refuse. This causes them to undergo metamorphosis (much like a caterpiller to butterfly) to much more colorful and love filled creatures. Though in season seven, we learn there are more than a few changelings who are resistant to this new way of doing things, and prefer the "good" old days of stealing love on which to feed.]]

* [[spoiler:The Changelings]] in the sixth season finale of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', upon realizing that [[spoiler:they can survive by ''sharing'' love instead of ''stealing'' it and constantly starving. They quickly follow the example of Thorax, ''and'' make up for their earlier kidnapping of the Royal Family and Elements of Harmony as well by freeing them with the destruction of Chrysalis' throne. [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Queen Chrysalis]] is the only one seen to refuse. This causes them to undergo metamorphosis (much like a caterpiller to butterfly) to much more colorful and love filled creatures.]]

* The [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orcs]] in ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} III''. The first two games had them as servitors of the coming demonic invasion, but Thrall's rise to warchief and push for the Orcs to return to their pre-demon shamanic traditions eventually led to them allying with the Elves and Humans to defeat [[BigBad Archimonde]].

* Early in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrolls'' franchise, Orcs were a random enemy. They have since risen to the status of potential playable characters.

HeelFaceTurn on an ethnic scale. A faction allied with the enemy joins the heroes' team. A neutral people becomes convinced it has to side with the villains to survive. Truth in Television, as an ethnic group's character is most engineered by its leaders. Argentinians don't wonder where family members went unless General Videla says they disappeared. Russians aren't losing sleep over fear that neighbors will report them without Russia's secret police (however, they start losing sleep over fear that TheMafiya will come to their door, Chechen terrorists will blow up their home, their money will become [[RidiculousExchangeRates funny]], their children will become drug addicts and they will not be able to buy a loaf of bread. At least you can keep the secret police at bay by being good little citizens. It's [[CrapsackWorld that kind of country]]).

** While they slide back or waver a couple of times, the Klingons go from one of the Federation's main enemies in [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries the original series]] to long-standing allies in ''[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration The Next Generation]]''. This was initially an off-screen change until ''Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry'' showed the beginning of the shift. ''[=DS9=]'', however, turns it into a [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor Heel Race Revolving Door]] when the Klingons invade a newly democratic Cardassia (on the false impression that the overthrow of the Cardassian military dictatorship = Dominion infiltration, [[spoiler:an impression planted by the Dominion itself as it turns out]]) and then declare war on the Federation after the latter tells them to knock it off and provides asylum to the new Cardassian government. They then come running back to the Federation with their tails between their legs after the Dominion finally invades in season 5.

** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': The Ferengi, partly due to EarlyInstallmentWeirdness, which portrayed them as AlwaysChaoticEvil LiteralManeater {{Money Fetish}}ists. Characterization [[CharacterizationMarchesOn marched on]] and the first two were eventually dropped as they became extreme Libertarians. Finally, [[Series/StarTrekDeepSapceNine Nog]] became a Starfleet member, performing with honors, while Rom became the Grand Nagus and became shifting the Ferengi ever-so-subtly towards benevolence.

* [[spoiler:The Changelings]] in the sixth season finale of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', upon realizing that [[spoiler:they can survive by ''sharing'' love instead of ''stealing'' it and constantly starving. They quickly follow the example of Thorax, ''and'' make up for their earlier kidnapping of the Royal Family and Elements of Harmony as well by freeing them with the destruction of Chrysalis' throne. [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Queen Chrysalis]] is the only one seen to refuse.]]

* [[spoiler:The Changelings]] in the sixth season finale of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', upon realizing that [[spoiler:they can survive by ''sharing'' love instead of ''stealing'' it and constantly starving. They quickly follow the example of Thorax, ''and'' make up for their earlier kidnapping of the Royal Family and Elements of Harmony as well by freeing them with the destruction of Chrysalis' throne.[[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Queen Chrysalis]] is the only one seen to refuse.]]

* [[spoiler:The Changelings]] in the sixth season finale of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', upon realizing that [[spoiler:they can survive by ''sharing'' love instead of ''stealing'' it and constantly starving. [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Queen Chrysalis]] is the only one seen to refuse.]]

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** [[spoiler: This ultimately occurs in the main timeline as well.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', this presumably happened to [[spoiler: the Fire Nation, when Ozai and Azula were defeated in the series finale, and Zuko became a new, benevolent Firelord.]] This didn't come out of the blue, though, as [[spoiler: throughout Season 3 it had been shown that Fire Nation citizens weren't inherently evil. Most of them merely believed in the war propaganda promulgated by the governments of Ozai and his predecessors.]]
* [[spoiler: The Highbreed]] in the ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'' finale, after Ben [[spoiler:ended the conflict with them peacefully by saving their species from extinction]].

* [[spoiler:Many Elites]] in ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' switch sides around the end of ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}'', after [[spoiler:the Prophet of Truth orders their extermination]]. In general, many ex-Covenant individuals after the war have no issue working with humans.

* [[spoiler: The Elites]] in ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' switch sides around the end of the second game, after [[spoiler:the Prophet of Truth orders their extermination]].

* In early ''VideoGame/TheElderScrolls'' games, Orcs were a random enemy. They have since risen to the status of potential playable characters.

* The [[HordeOfAlienLocusts Zerg]] in ''VideoGame/StarCraftIIHeartOfTheSwarm'', thanks to their queen Kerrigan [[TookALevelInKindness regaining part of her humanity]]. To say they actually become good guys is a bit of a stretch (they still express interest in [[YouWillBeAssimilated assimilating other species]], and [[TheBeastmaster Kerrigan pretty much is keeping them on a leash]]), but at least they do join force with the good guys, and are on their way to help save the Universe against [[BigBad Amon]] by the end of the game. [[spoiler:After Amon's defeat and Kerrigan's [[AscendToAHigherPlanOfExistance departure as a Xel'Naga]], their new Queen, Zagara, seems satisfied with controlling the systems around their hive planet Char and leaving both Protoss and Terrans alone, though how long this will last is not clarified.]]

* The Zentran / Meltran in ''Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross'' are pretty much split down the middle when they encounter humanity. Some stay with Bodolza, while a large chunk side with the humans. Later series indicate that contact with "uncultured" Zentraedi fleets is still a semi-regular occurrence as they explore the galaxy, and sometimes they are successful in convincing these fleets to join their society, and sometimes they are not, resulting in wars.