History Main / Turncoat

* Justin Law in ''SoulEater''. Appears to be working for the antagonists (of which there are a few groups), specifically Noah, with a view to uncovering the Kishin. Now, technically, this was what Shinigami ''asked'' him to do (drive Asura out of hiding by making his presence known). But his methods might not go down too well. If this is a ploy, he's [[LovesTheSoundOfScreaming really]] [[MadnessMakeover getting]] into [[SlasherSmile it]].

If they're discovered to have been bad the whole time, they're TheMole. If they're a bad guy who's been secretly ''good'', they're the ReverseMole. If they're faking their switch, they're a FakeDefector or HeelFaceMole. If they switch back and forth, they're going through the HeelFaceRevolvingDoor. The DefectorFromDecadence often falls under this.

* Cypher, in ''TheMatrix''.
* ''LittleGiants'': Spike Hammersmith when he leaves the Little Giants and plays for the Cowboys after initially joining the Giants because Danny fibbed and said he was Kevin. Considering how he was tricked into joining the Little Giants in the first place, can anyone really hold it against Spike?

* ''ASongOfIceAndFire'' is filled with these. Particularly sellswords, who will abandon battle and even turn ''against'' those who hired them and join the enemy if the tide is against them.

* Flarejet in ''TransformersOperationCombination'', a Decepticon who used to be an Autobot and a friend of Firefoad

* In {{Shogi}}, captured pieces change sides.

* ''ZebraGirl'': [[http://zebragirl.keenspot.com/d/20040813.html Lampshaded]] after Sam has already berated the gangsters for using cheesy movie plot lines.

* ''SurvivalOfTheFittest'': Julie Mikan, who started off Heel did a HeelFaceTurn [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor then managed another]] FaceHeelTurn.

* In Creator/EdgarRiceBurroughs's ''[[JohnCarterOfMars Chessmen of Mars]]'', the ancient I-Gos is perpetually praising his days. So thorough is his admiration that he changes his loyalties on realizing who is TheHero.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'': In Creator/BenCounter's ''HorusHeresy'' novel ''Galaxy In Flames'', [[spoiler:Lucius]] motivated by [[GreenEyedMonster envy]] of how [[spoiler:Tarvitz]] took command, betrays [[spoiler:the last survivors of Horus's treacherous attack]].

* Esmer in ''The Last ChroniclesOfThomasCovenant'' is chronically unable to choose a side, to the annoyance of everyone involved. He has the rare distinction of being able to switch sides several times a day and the personal power to pull it off.

* ''InuYasha'': [[DarkActionGirl Kagura]] [[IJustWantToBeFree desired her freedom]] from her enslavement to [[BigBad Naraku]]. As the story develops, she helps [[ImpliedLoveInterest Sesshoumaru]] against Naraku more and more and begins to aid Inuyasha's group against him, too. [[spoiler:When she takes active measures to save [[DesignatedVictim Kohaku]]'s life, Naraku [[HeroicSacrifice finally ends hers]].]]

* ''FinalFantasyVII'': [[spoiler:Reeve Tuesti, controlling]] Cait Sith is TheMole for the bad guys at first, but quickly swaps sides wholeheartedly once he's found out, even taking a risk for the party through [[spoiler:sacrificing one of his puppets for their cause]].

** In the [[{{Filler}} Zanpakutou]] [[{{A|nime}}rc, Byakuya betrays the shinigami to side with the rebelling [[TalkingWeapon zanpakutou]]. [[spoiler: He's actually a FakeDefector.]]

* Skinner in ''TheXFiles''.

** Theon Greyjoy [[spoiler:is dubbed Theon Turncloak after betraying House Stark.]]

** Uryuu Ishida goes from being an enemy of Ichigo and the shinigami to an ally... albeit with [[LoopholeAbuse loopholes]] helping him along the way to protect his pride.

** In the [[{{Filler}} Zanpakutou]] [[{{Anime}} Arc]], Byakuya betrays the shinigami to side with the rebelling [[TalkingWeapon zanpakutou]]. [[spoiler: He's actually a FakeDefector.]]

* ''InuYasha'': [[DarkActionGirl Kagura]] [[IJustWantToBeFree desired her freedom]] from her enslavement to [[BigBad Naraku]]. As the story develops, she helps [[ImpliedLoveInterest Sesshoumaru]] against Naraku more and more and begins to aid Inuyasha's group against him, too. [[spoiler: When she takes active measures to save [[DesignatedVictim Kohaku]]'s life, Naraku [[HeroicSacrifice finally ends hers]].]]

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** Ben often is in a HeelFaceRevolvingDoor, depending on who's side he's on at that moment and what he's ultimate goal is. [[spoiler: He undergoes a final HeelFaceTurn in the final episode, after Hurley offers him a second chance at redepemption, as his NumberTwo while he settles into the role as new protector of the Island]].

** Even [[spoiler: Ben]] undergoes a HeelFaceTurn in the final episode, [[spoiler: after Hurley offers him a second chance as his NumberTwo while he settles into the role as new protector of the Island]].

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'': In BenCounter's ''HorusHeresy'' novel ''Galaxy In Flames'', [[spoiler:Lucius]] motivated by [[GreenEyedMonster envy]] of how [[spoiler:Tarvitz]] took command, betrays [[spoiler:the last survivors of Horus's treacherous attack]].

* ''HarryPotter'': [[spoiler:Peter Pettigrew]], who sold out two of his best friends, [[spoiler:Lily and James Potter]], to [[BigBad Voldemort]], and then framed a third friend, [[spoiler:Sirius Black]], for the whole thing. He considered turning back (just a little bit!) after [[spoiler:Harry Potter]] [[IOweYouMyLife saved his life]], but [[spoiler: the mere thought of betraying Voldemort caused his magical prosthetic arm to strangle him]].

The TurnCoat is the guy who switches sides at some point to help out the other side. Can be [[FaceHeelTurn a hero who turns bad]], or [[HeelFaceTurn a bad guy who suddenly decides to help the good guys]], but usually it's just anyone who thinks that the switch will benefit them personally.

Not to be confused with ''[[TheDresdenFiles Turn Coat]]''.

* In Creator/EdgarRiceBurroughs's ''[[JohnCarterOfMars Chessmen of Mars]]'', the ancient I-Gos is perpetually praising his days. So thorough is his admiration that he [[TurnCoat changes his loyalties]] on realizing who is TheHero.

* In ''{{Harald}}'', the leader of [[RoyalBrat King James's]] secret police betrays him when [[spoiler: James makes a HeelFaceTurn.]]

* In Mercedes Lackey's ''The Black Griffon'', two of Urtho's generals seem to be carrying the IdiotBall for most of the book; they're constantly losing troops of all species by attempting flashy, dangerous tactics which would lead to glorious victories, if only they actually worked; it later comes to light that these losses are intentional, as they have been working for the enemy for some time.