History Main / MoralityAdjustment

# A villain becoming more of a Heel. (eg: from Villain to CompleteMonster)

* Xellos from the ''{{LightNovel/Slayers}}'' franchise. Although we're never exactly sure where he stands, he does skirt back and forth across this line while still facing the "I'm still evil but currently in a trend of doing good/evil things" line.

* Characters in ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'' are locked into supporting either [[TheAlliance the Republic]] or [[TheEmpire the Empire]], and since they are given objectives by their class and faction quests, their overall support of freedom vs. tyranny can't change. However, they ''are'' allowed to embrace the Light or Dark Side as they so choose, so a member of the Republic might be TheCape or an AntiHero [[NotSoDifferent willing to embrace Imperial tactics if it means winning the war]]. On the other hand, an Imperial character might be a traditional villain, or a ConsummateProfessional who eschews unnecessary cruelty and senseless violence. For instance, it is possible to rise to the [[OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness Dark Council of the Empire]] as a Sith Inquisitor by taking an exclusively Light Sided path--and yet every LS choice will come across as a shrewd scheme that, first and foremost, advances the Inquisitor's agenda, and just happens to have an unintentional side effect of making life better for the others.

* In ''Series/LegendOfTheSeeker'', Cara has a morality adjustment, makes a HeelFaceTurn, and then has another MoralityAdjustment. She becomes an Anti-Vilain (a kind of NobleDemon) to save her friends, and then, after a Heel Face Turn, she becomes, first an [[AntiHero Anti-Hero]] (type [[GoodisNotNice 3]] bordering [[IDidWhatIHadToDo the next type]]), and then a just, compassive and determined heroine with great strength of will (and shades of [[KnightinSourArmour Anti-Hero type 2]]).

[[folder: Anime And Manga ]]

* Xellos from the ''{{LightNovel/Slayers}}'' franchise. Although we're never exactly sure where he stands, he does skirt back and forth across this line while still facing the "I'm still evil but currently in a trend of doing good/evil things" line.

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

* The [[Series/DoctorWho Seventh Doctor]] in the New Adventures tie-in novels changed from an enigmatic though sympathetic "Dark Doctor" to a full-on KnightTemplar Doctor.

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* In ''Series/DoctorWho'', the First Doctor goes over the course of Season 1 from being the TokenEvilTeammate (his original intended role) and a SociopathicHero, to being a GuileHero and LoveableRogue. [[ShootTheDog Most of the time.]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Web Comics ]]

%%[[folder: Web Original ]]

%%

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* [[DarkActionGirl Asajj]] [[ReformedButNotTamed Ventress]] would be an example of the second variation in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' and related media.

[[folder: Web Original ]]

* Alas, poor [[WebVideo/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog Dr. Horrible]], we knew him well.

[[/folder]]

* In ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', this happens to Kakashi. He changes from a by-the-book and cold-hearted (if loyal) ChildSoldier who'd leave a friend to die in a heartbeat if he thought it'd be better for the village, into a man who is known for never leaving anyone behind, no matter the costs.

* In ''{{Naruto}}'', this happens to Kakashi. He changes from a by-the-book and cold-hearted (if loyal) ChildSoldier who'd leave a friend to die in a heartbeat if he thought it'd be better for the village, into a man who is known for never leaving anyone behind, no matter the costs.

** DiscussedTrope when Roy's moral compass is assessed after his death to decide which afterlife he should go to. Though he'd identified himself as LawfulGood through the story up to that point, the assessing angel pointed out his more questionable decisions, such as hiring [[TokenEvilTeammate Belkar]], and suggested that his mixed bag of motivations and methods would make him fit better as NeutralGood. In the end, [[spoiler:he's still found LawfulGood]].
** [[TokenEvilTeammate Belkar]] sort of had one - while still ChaoticEvil, his tactics shift from StupidEvil to PragmaticVillainy as a result of meeting Lord Shojo (a ChaoticGood {{Chessmaster}}) and gaining an appreciation for his style. As the story goes on, Belkar may or may not be shifting towards ChaoticNeutral as a result of BecomingTheMask.
** Vaarsuvius has had at least two adjustments, though exactly when they occurred is up for debate. Apparently, Vaarsuvius's actual alignment is TrueNeutral: [[AmbiguousGender s/he]] wants to save the world, but cares more about his/her personal goals and does what s/he needs to do to accomplish them.

** Vaarsuvius has had at least two adjustments, though exactly when they occurred is up for debate. Apparently, Vaarsuvius's actual alignment is TrueNeutral: [[AmbiguousGender s/he]] wants to save the world, but cares more about his personal goals, and does what s/he needs to do to accomplish them.

# A hero becoming more of a Face. (eg: from Hero to IncorruptiblePurePureness)

[[AC:AnimeAndManga]]

[[AC:ComicBooks]]

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]

[[AC:WebComics]]

[[AC:WebOriginal]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

* Justified by MindRape in TheDCU: The villain Dr. Light was extensively brainwashed by Zatanna. She attempted to bring out his good side, but was ultimately only capable of turning him into a HarmlessVillain. After ''Identity Crisis'', the brainwashing unstuck and he reverted to his old nasty self.

** Belkar sort of had one, going from StupidEvil to ChaoticEvil But Careful About It. He later starts making steps in the direction of Chaotic Neutral, but he's still definitely a bad guy.
** Vaarsuvius has had at least two adjustments, though exactly when they occurred is up for debate. Apparently, Vaarsuvius's actual alignment is True Neutral: s/he wants to save the world, but cares more about his personal goals, and does what s/he needs to do to accomplish them.

** {{Lampshade| Hanging}}d and {{Subverted| Trope}} when Roy's moral compass is assessed after his death to decide which afterlife he should go to. Though he'd identified himself as LawfulGood through the story up to that point, the assessing angel pointed out his more questionable decisions, such as hiring [[TokenEvilTeammate Belkar]], and suggested that his mixed bag of motivations and methods would make him fit better as NeutralGood. In the end, [[spoiler:he's still found LawfulGood]].

* Xellos from the ''{{Slayers}}'' franchise. Although we're never exactly sure where he stands, he does skirt back and forth across this line while still facing the "I'm still evil but currently in a trend of doing good/evil things" line.

* In LegendOfTheSeeker, Cara has a morality adjustment, makes a HeelFaceTurn, and then has another MoralityAdjustment. She becomes an Anti-Vilain (a kind of NobleDemon) to save her friends, and then, after a Heel Face Turn, she becomes, first an [[AntiHero Anti-Hero]] (type [[GoodisNotNice 3]] bordering [[IDidWhatIHadToDo the next type]]), and then a just, compassive and determined heroine with great strength of will (and shades of [[KnightinSourArmour Anti-Hero type 2]]).

** Belkar sort of had one, going from StupidEvil to ChaoticEvil But Careful About It.

* With the introduction of rogues and vigilantes in the Going Rogue expansion, characters in CityOfHeroes can go from hero to vigilante, from villain to rogue, from vigilante to villain or back to hero, and from rogue to hero or back to villain.

* Alas, poor [[DrHorriblesSingAlongBlog Dr. Horrible]], we knew him well.

* Characters in ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'' are locked into supporting either [[TheAlliance the Republic]] or [[TheEmpire the Empire]], and since they are given objectives by their class and faction quests, their overall support of freedom vs. tyranny can't change. However, they ''are'' allowed to embrace the Light or Dark Side as they so choose, so a member of the Republic might be TheCape or an AntiHero [[NotSoDifferent willing to embrace Imperial tactics if it means winning the war]]. On the other hand, an Imperial character might be a traditional CompleteMonster, or a ConsummateProfessional who eschews unnecessary cruelty and senseless violence. For instance, it is possible to rise to the [[OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness Dark Council of the Empire]] as a Sith Inquisitor by taking an exclusively Light Sided path--and yet every LS choice will come across as a shrewd scheme that, first and foremost, advances the Inquisitor's agenda, and just happens to have an unintentional side effect of making life better for the others.