Line #246 Main/ReformedButNotTamed


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6
7	->''"Discord may be reformed, but he's not '''that''' reformed."''
8	-->-- '''Spike the Dragon''' (who's [[GoodIsNotNice kind of right]]), ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''
9
10	When it comes to characters [[HeelFaceTurn turning from evil to good]], you would assume that their character and personality have changed. This isn't always the case, and the change isn't always complete and these characters still have the same ruthless attitude and behavior.
11
12	This trope is when a character goes from evil to good while still retaining the characteristics they had as a {{villain\|s}}. There are plenty of reasons why their immoral or unpleasant behavior remains the same despite changing their alignment:
13
14	# The reformed character may still harbor some form of resentment or disdain for the good guys, particularly TheHero.
15	# They are still hung on the ways of villainy, and they were very "sour grapes" on joining the heroes. Perhaps they may have been a WellIntentionedExtremist who's now realized that their actions caused more harm than good, but they still hang on to their ruthless ways as long as it doesn't hurt others, or maybe their [[DrunkOnTheDarkSide evil powers have enlightened them a lot]], but they now [[BadPowersGoodPeople agree to use it for the greater good instead of their self-serving reasons]].
16	# They may be just naturally mean due to some FreudianExcuse or other reason and they will be an example of GoodIsNotNice for years to come.
17	# They are simply all too aware that they can never be a model of IncorruptiblePurePureness. They'll still play dirty if it comes to that.
18	# They have changed their allegiance and goals without modifying their [[KnightTemplar ruthless hardcore mindset]].
19
20	Very common in a setting of BlackAndGrayMorality. This type of character is more likely to become TheHero's [[TheLancer lancer]], especially when the former is an IdealHero or TheCape. When it comes to this trope, turning over a new leaf is more complex than people thought it would be, which can invoke the thought that HumansAreFlawed or even [[HumansAreBastards bastards]]. Meta-wise, this can be done for the benefit of viewers who [[EvilIsCool find the character interesting and entertaining as a villain]] and would get [[GoodIsBoring bored out by clear-cut goody guys.]]
21
22	Also see TokenEvilTeammate, CombatPragmatist, AboveGoodAndEvil, GoodIsNotNice, or VigilanteMan. Subtrope of QuirkyGood. Compare HazyFeelTurn and HeroesFrontierStep. Not to be confused with ReformedButRejected, where a character turns for the better, but others don't acknowledge it.
23
24	'''Here's a list of tropes that involve a character changing their alignment, but not their personality. In short, this is more of a character turning into "heroic" versions of what they started off as''':
25
26	!!Tropes:
27	* AbusiveParents → ToughLove or ParentsAsPeople
28	* AlphaBitch → LovableAlphaBitch
29	* AlwaysChaoticEvil → NotAlwaysEvil, MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch, and TokenHeroicOrc
30	* ArchEnemy → TheRival (or FriendlyRivalry), WorthyOpponent, and FriendlyEnemy
31	* BadBoss → MeanBoss or PointyHairedBoss
32	* TheBaroness → DefrostingIceQueen and SugarAndIcePersonality
33	* BigBad → GoKartingWithBowser
34	* BigBrotherBully → AloofBigBrother
35	* TheBrute → TheBigGuy (the tough variants)
36	* TheBully → LovingBully or TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou
37	* CardCarryingVillain → NobleDemon
38	* Character Alignments
39	** ChaoticEvil → ChaoticNeutral
40	** LawfulEvil → LawfulNeutral
41	** NeutralEvil → TrueNeutral
42	* DarkIsEvil → DarkIsNotEvil or CastingAShadow (in {{elemental\|powers}} settings)
43	* DarkMessiah → DarkShepherd
44	* DirtyCop → CowboyCop
45	* DirtyCoward → LovableCoward
46	* TheDragon → NobleTopEnforcer
47	* EvilPoacher → EgomaniacHunter
48	* EvilMentor and TreacherousAdvisor → StealthMentor and CynicalMentor
49	* EvilPrince → RebelPrince
50	* [[DaddysLittleVillain Evil Princess]] → RebelliousPrincess
51	* EvilRedhead → FieryRedhead
52	* ForTheEvulz → ItAmusedMe
53	* GoldDigger → TrophyWife
54	* HangingJudge → JudgeJuryAndExecutioner
55	* {{Heel}} → WildCard (also known as Tweener)
56	* ImmoralJournalist → IntrepidReporter
57	* {{Jerkass}} and JerkJock → JerkWithAHeartOfGold (or HiddenHeartOfGold), GoodIsNotNice, and DumbJock
58	* KickTheDog → PayEvilUntoEvil or ShootTheDog
59	* KidsAreCruel → NaughtyIsGood
60	* KnightTemplar → UnscrupulousHero
61	* LightIsNotGood → LightEmUp (in {{elemental\|powers}} settings)
62	* TheNeidermeyer → DrillSergeantNasty and SergeantRock
63	* NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist → WellIntentionedExtremist
64	* NothingNiceAboutSugarAndSpice → SilkHidingSteel
65	* NunTooHoly → NaughtyNuns or NunsAreSpooky
66	* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain → PoliticallyIncorrectHero, NobleBigot, and NobleBigotWithABadge
67	* PsychoRangers → AntiHeroTeam
68	* RottenRockAndRoll → SexDrugsAndRockAndRoll
69	* SadistTeacher and EvilTeacher → SternTeacher
70	* TheSavageSouth → DeepSouth
71	* SerialKiller → SerialKillerKiller
72	* SinisterMinister → ChurchMilitant
73	* TheSociopath → SociopathicHero and HeroicComedicSociopath
74	* SpoiledBrat and RoyalBrat → SpoiledSweet
75	* TerribleTrio → FreudianTrio
76	* TheVamp → FemmeFatale, GoodBadGirl, HeroicSeductress, ChivalrousPervert
77	* {{Villain\|s}} → AntiHero
78	* VillainSue → JerkSue (when they're the [[DesignatedHero hero]])
79	* VisionaryVillain → MoralPragmatist
80	* WellIntentionedExtremist → PragmaticHero
81
82	[[noreallife]]
83
84	!!Examples:
85
86	[[foldercontrol]]
87
88	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
89	* Sakurako Sanjou from ''Manga/BoysOverFlowers'' is a {{Rich\|Bitch}} BitchInSheepsClothing as well as very nasty when crossed. After her HeelFaceTurn, despite having a kinder disposition, she still remains spoiled and childish.
90	* Magma in ''Manga/DrStone'' was the ArcVillain of the TournamentArc, whose goal was to become the village chief by any means necessary, including murder -- the only thing keeping him from having an actual body count is the fact that his victim Gen [[ProperlyParanoid hid makeshift armor and blood packs under his clothing]]. After he's been dealt with, Senku manages to win Magma over to his side by promising that science can show him wonders beyond anything he'd ever imagined; Magma agrees, but insists "If you show me any boring crap I'll kill you!". Even though he becomes a valuable member of the "Power Team", he's still a hot-headed JerkJock whose ''first'' impulse is to [[AttackAttackAttack charge in headfirst]] and [[MurderIsTheBestSolution kill their opponents without regret]], forcing Nikki to rein him in via TapOnTheHead or [[GroinAttack Boot to the Soft-n-Danglies]].
91	* ''Franchise/DragonBall'':
92	** Vegeta goes from villain to [[TeethClenchedTeamwork reluctant allies of the heroes]] on Namek, joins the fight against the androids because [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou doesn't want them to kill Goku before he can]], and temporarily turns evil again during the Buu Saga. At the end of the Buu Saga, he pulls a genuine HeelFaceTurn by sacrificing himself in an attempt to kill Buu, then later reviving all of the people he has killed while he [[MoreThanMindControl deliberately allowed himself to be hypnotized by Babidi's spell earlier]] as well as making peace with Goku. Even then, he still retains his gruff attitude.
93	** Piccolo is the same way. Even though [[MoralityPet Gohan]] was the reason he softened up and became a part of the good guys, he still remains aloof and distant toward the other fighters. Even after it's clear to everyone that Piccolo is a genuine hero now, he still claims to be "the Devil", for example. Further driven home in the anime's original soundtrack of all things, in which no matter how heroic his {{Leitmotif}} becomes, the key only changes for slower-paced scenes, so it will always carry an air of danger about it during action scenes.
94	** Both of them moved further by the time of ''Anime/DragonBallSuper''. Piccolo has mellowed out considerably, though he's still rather aloof. Apparently he actually spends time eating with Goku's family, and he babysits Pan when both Gohan and Videl are busy. Vegeta... Well, he's still very much Vegeta, but he cares deeply for his Earth family despite his attempts to not show it, and there are moments for him that border on NotSoAboveItAll.
95	* Sesshomaru started as a villain trying to kill his own half-brother ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}'', but turned into his protector due to taking a young orphan girl under his wing. This doesn't mean he really enjoys showing kindness to others, even Inuyasha.
96	* In ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar'', Kaguya lets go of her ambition to be President, and is proud to support people not like [[TheSocialDarwinist her father]]… but she still takes glee in intimidating political threats and is often inconsiderate of her personal servant. Her CharacterDevelopment manifests as an increased willingness to apologize and recognize her mistakes when people call her out for them, rather than never making similar mistakes again.
97	* ''Franchise/{{Naruto}}'':
98	** The previously CardCarryingVillain Orochimaru outgrows his fetish for fanning the flames of war and becoming a perfect immortal being, and now wants to trust his knowledge to the next generation and see what happens. His slithering snakes and creepy rituals, once used to terrorize the innocent and shake the foundations of nations, are now used to bolster faltering heroic forces and give confused teenagers history lessons. Orochimaru's former friend Tsunade — whose life he goes out of his way to save — uncomfortably accepts him as an ally again, but makes a point of asking "but why, Orochimaru? Why have you always been such an asshole? Why are you suddenly now not being an asshole? Are you aware of the fact that our friend Jiraiya may have still been alive if you had decided to stop being an asshole earlier?", to which Orochimaru basically replies with "don't nag me with your silly hypotheticals."
99	** DoubleSubverted with Orochimaru's disciple, Sasuke. Sasuke's short term as apparently Reformed But Not Tamed is, to begin with, edgier and more fraught with reservations than Orochimaru's — which is very jarring given that Orochimaru was introduced as a villain with a capital V whereas Sasuke was a mere RivalTurnedEvil who several times displayed redeeming characteristics. At first, we are led to believe that Sasuke has concluded that the best way to stick it to the man is to save the world and be elected for office, with only ominous hints regarding the mystery of his ultimate agenda; eventually, we find out that [[spoiler:he does not intend to be elected, and instead his idea of "saving the world" involves killing the Kage to tick people off, thereby setting himself up as the ultimate evil and keeping the world united against him (he didn't trust them to stay united without a common enemy). Fortunately, Naruto's will to keep on fighting him for as long as necessary proved stronger than Sasuke's will to go through with this plan, and he gives it up as he finally concedes defeat]].
100	* ''Prima Doll'' features a non-villainous example in episode 2. After Gekka reveals her traumatic past to Haizakura, the latter suggests that she should focus on the future, and not the past. While she shows signs of trying (notably after Haizakura has left the conversation), she jumps right back into her old self as she immediately attacks an incoming enemy. She briefly remembers the words Haizakura told her but disregards them and kills them.
101	* ''Manga/SaintSeiya'':
102	** Saga is the first BigBad due [[SplitPersonalityTakeover the evil side of his personality overpowering his good side]]. After he's resurrected in the Hades Saga and ''Anime/SaintSeiyaSoulOfGold'', his good side is in control — and it turns out that the main difference between his personalities is that the good one is loyal to Athena and somewhat more restricted about annihilating things.
103	** [[spoiler:Kanon]] first appears as TheManBehindTheMan for both [[spoiler:Saga (being responsible for his SplitPersonalityTakeover) and Poseidon (who has not fully awakened)]], and as an unrelenting and brutal opponent when faced in combat. When he [[spoiler:takes his brother Saga's place in Athena's army during the Hades Saga]], he's still the same as before, he just has loyalty to Athena to keep him in check.
104	** Cancer Deathmask first appeared as a CardCarryingVillain, what with his inability to care about collateral damage or [[NightmareFuel decorating the Temple of the Giant Crab with wailing faces that are actually the manifestation of his victims' souls]]. In ''Anime/SaintSeiyaSoulOfGold'', he's profoundly ashamed of having become so evil that his Cloth abandoned him — and when he meets an enemy more evil than he ever was, he uses a variation of the same technique he used on those souls to [[PayEvilUntoEvil give him the worst torture he ever dished out]], one [[FateWorseThanDeath far worse than just killing him]] — [[AndIMustScream and will never end]].
105	** Pisces Aphrodite was never as evil as the others, just [[TheUnfettered having a cruel disposition that matched his gorgeous looks]] as he worked for Saga. In ''Anime/SaintSeiyaSoulOfGold'', he's on the side of justice — and proceeds to MindRape a rather villainous enemy into submission.
106	* Much like the [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 game continuity]], Shadow in ''Anime/SonicX'' pulls a HeelFaceTurn by sacrificing himself to save the world from the Space Colony ARK. In the Metarex saga, however, Shadow returns (with his memories erased), still the PerpetualFrowner, still cold and aloof around others, and still ruthless in his goals, even to the point of fighting Sonic and his friends if it's necessary. Believe it or not, he's largely more ruthless and less personable than his game incarnation (who mellowed out a bit more after [[VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog his own titular game]]).
107	* [[Characters/YuGiOhSetoKaiba Seto Kaiba]] from ''Anime/YuGiOh'' was FauxAffablyEvil at first. Even if he's undergone some CharacterDevelopment and even if he's helped Yugi and his friends, he still remains a grumpy, arrogant, and insufferable {{Jerkass}} (and his [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold heart of gold]] doesn't show that much unless it involves his brother [[MoralityPet Mokuba]]). Also, he is still [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou obsessed with defeating Yugi]].
108	* Hiei in ''Anime/YuYuHakusho'' has this quality. When we first meet him, he tries to take over the human world with a sword he stole from Spirit World, so he starts off as the {{Villain\|s}}. Then when we meet him again, he almost goes towards being a villain but eventually becomes an AntiHero. He's still a rebel and doesn't like being told what to do, [[spoiler:which ends badly for him at the beginning of the Chapter Black arc]].
109	[[/folder]]
110
111	[[folder:Asian Animation]]
112	* ''Animation/BoBoiBoy'': Elemental Forms of [=BoBoiBoy=] that were once "evil" or berserk (Thunderstorm, Cyclone, Fire) still retain the flaws they had even when fighting with the heroes. Thunderstorm is still merciless, Cyclone still toys with his opponents, and Fire is still prone to losing his temper.
113	[[/folder]]
114
115	[[folder:Comic Books]]
116	* ''ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderSmokeAndShadow'' can offer this take on [[spoiler:Azula]], who instigates a plot to financially bankrupt the new Ozai society all in the means of keeping Zuko safe from their plots. This, however, comes with an offset of massive child abduction and a shaky reasoning of [[spoiler:Azula's]] own motivations to help out. Ultimately a weird case of "Girl's heart is somewhat in the right place, but god only knows where the hell the brain's at."
117	* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'':
118	** ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} develops into an anti-heroine who often at times teams up with Batman in his missions. Then there's that whole [[DatingCatwoman relationship status of theirs]].
119	** In his short stint as a reformed detective, the Riddler, while for the most part working on the right side of the law, still retained his ego and need for attention, and at times cheated to get his leads. For example, one comic showed he would frequent chat rooms that gave theories on current crimes (one of which involved lilies that were left at the scene and random victims, with suggestions being things like a ritual killing, a serial killer, or a cult, etc.), and if he felt a theory/lead was good enough, he would pursue it, and if it checked out, the Riddler would simply take the credit for himself. Of course, being as Batman often frequented those same chat rooms and shared some of those leads, it could have just as easily [[BatmanGambit been a way to let the Riddler show off his "genius" to the media and feed his ego and need for attention while simultaneously keeping him on the straight and narrow]].
120	* ComicBook/{{Deadpool}} debuted as a mercenary villain in ''ComicBook/NewMutants'' and in ''ComicBook/XForce''. After those events, he's still a mercenary but evolves into a HeroicComedicSociopath who only does good deeds not because it was the right thing to do, but because either [[ItAmusedMe he felt like it]] or for selfish motives. However, he has made honest attempts at being a hero at times, like in ''ComicBook/CableAndDeadpool''.
121	* ''ComicBook/HarleyQuinn'' started as a VillainProtagonist in her first comic, and was mostly this in her 2014 series as well (albeit with some [[AntiVillain redeeming traits]]). As of Rebirth and beyond, she's become more of an AntiHero and has started mainly doing straight-up heroic deeds (often at the [[CopsNeedTheVigilante behest of the police chief]]). It's still pretty hard to say she's an outright good guy, however, given her [[AxCrazy general craziness and bloodthirstiness]].
122	* [=ThugBoy=] and Ninjette from ''ComicBook/{{Empowered}}'' started as {{Punch Clock Villain}}s, but also thanks to the influence of the protagonist, they developed into [[AntiHero Anti-Heroes]].
123	* ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW'': In the two-part storyline "Tempest's Tale", Tempest Shadow (who served as TheDragon in [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyTheMovie2017 the movie]]), while reformed, is still blunt and short-tempered. When she encounters Glitter Drops, one of her old friends, she wastes no time showing off her deep-seated resentment toward her for her part in Tempest's StartOfDarkness and practically explodes with fury when Glitter Drops [[UnwantedRescue saves her]] from an [[BearsAreBadNews Ursa Minor]], angered that she needed help from her.
124	* Exeter from ''Comicbook/{{Scion}}'' was a menacing minor villain, but becomes TheBigGuy of the main group who is less merciful than Ethan might like.
125	* ''ComicBook/SuperiorSpiderMan2013'': After taking over Peter Parker's body and getting infused with a few of his core memories, Otto Octavius promises a dying Spider-Man to continue his legacy. While he does follow the promise, his main motivation is to prove he's a [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Superior Spider-Man]] than Peter, so he uses the same methods as he did as [[Characters/MarvelComicsOttoOctavius Doctor Octopus]], making him just a NominalHero who is as arrogant and pathetic as he was back in his villain days.
126	* ''ComicBook/TransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye'': In Season 2, Megatron is this. He's renounced the Decepticons and violence, but he's still a jerk who's not interested in being friendly or exerting himself to save strangers. It takes a ReasonYouSuckSpeech from Ratchet asking if he actually wanted to reform or if it was just an act and saying that the Autobot symbol he'd stuck on his chest was supposed to actually mean something all the time and not just when it was convenient to Megatron to get him to actually make an effort to be heroic.
127	* ''ComicBook/{{Venom}}'': Eddie Brock becomes Anti-Venom, who tries to become TheAtoner as well as graduating into a full-fledged AntiHero. Then there's the Venom symbiote itself after bonding with Flash Thompson.
128	* ''ComicBook/XMen'':
129	** Emma Frost started as a villainess who is cold, aloof, arrogant, sociopathic, and likes to [[{{Stripperiffic}} underdress]]. Even after she joins the team, nothing has changed about her attitude and behavior, although she seems to [[DefrostingIceQueen let her coldness melt a little]] and becomes ''slightly'' less sociopathic... sometimes.
130	** Sabretooth was inverted into a good guy during ''ComicBook/{{AXIS}}''. He genuinely wants to do good and atone for all his past sins, swearing to Logan that he will find the Spirit of a Wolverine. However, just because he's good and penitent doesn't mean he's a sweetheart. He still has the same gruff, temperamental, snarky attitude he has as a villain. And he's still violent, but now he's using it against bad guys to help, rather than for his own sadism. In ''Weapon X'' #25, Azazel says he's still a monster on his way to Hell because of this. While he may work with the good guys, all his past evil is still in his soul and hasn't been washed away.
131	[[/folder]]
132
133	[[folder:Fan Works]]
134	* San, formerly one of the [[MultipleHeadCase three heads]] of King Ghidorah who has since been separated from Ghidorah's body and has merged with Dr. Graham to form a new two-headed creature in ''Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon''. Although [[MoralityPet Vivienne's positive influence]] and being cut off from the other Ghidorah heads' evil influence leads San to [[HeelFaceTurn switch his moral alignment]] to fighting for Godzilla and humanity, San still retains a cruel streak towards anyone who personally hurts him and the ones he cares about past his patience threshold, and he still finds the thought of fighting with other monsters [[BloodKnight alluring]].
135	* Bucky Barnes in ''Fanfic/AintNoGrave'' is every bit as [[MookHorrorShow terrifying]] going after Hydra as he was fighting for them as the Winter Soldier.
136	* In the ''Blog/BetterBonesAU'' Hawkfrost remains a cruel prankster, appearing in the Dark Forest sometimes to cause trouble, even after his HeelFaceTurn.
137	* ''Blog/AskBrainyTwilight'': Brainy Twilight has recently begun an attempt to reform a cannibal pony. Progress is... iffy.
138	* [[EnfantTerrible Cozy Glow]] is more or less this by the end of ''Fanfic/CastlingCozyGlow''; She has a [[MoralityPet handful of ponies she genuinely cares about]], has agreed to [[spoiler: be Twilight's apprentice]], and resisted a golden opportunity to seize power and go back to her villainous ways… but only barely. And only because one of the aforementioned ponies she cares about put themselves in the line of fire. She still has her lust for power, though she's at least open to earning it legitimately if no better opportunity arises, still has a hostile attitude with most ponies, and while she does agree to be [[spoiler: Twilight's apprentice]], she still stubbornly refuses to let go of her resentment towards Twilight, who has to dangle the possibility that she might [[spoiler: make Cozy an alicorn princess like Celestia did her]] someday to get her to agree. The sequel, ''The Once and the Future Princess'', picks up with Cozy's attitude only marginally approved from where ''Castling'' left off and she still (half-jokingly) talks about evil schemes. But she is making progress.
139	* Loki in ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' is a hero, a kindly and indulgent uncle, and a patient teacher. He's also TheAtoner and bitterly regrets what he did when he invaded Earth. However, he is also [[TheSpymaster Asgard's spymaster]], willing to use ColdBloodedTorture to extract information, and is generally the sort of person you don't want to be on the wrong side of. Ever.
140	** Magneto is no longer the mutant supremacist terrorist who rampaged across the world for decades, but he's still absolutely vicious whenever he's going up against an enemy, especially those who harm his loved ones. This is especially well shown during the ''Forever Red'' and ''Bloody Hell'' arcs; in the former, he devastates the Red Room's [[EliteMooks Winter Guard]] for what their organization did to his younger daughter and his old daughter's godson, and in the latter, he goes totally batshit on Voldemort (who indirectly caused the death of his wife).
141	* In ''Fanfic/ADifferentLesson'', Tai Lung ends up as this by the end of the story as well, although [[DownplayedTrope far less so]] than most examples. Still, he retains his DeadpanSnarker nature (which is often very biting), continues to carry certain resentments, and will always have a belligerent temper and some degree of arrogance.
142	* ''Fanfic/EquestriaGirlsAFairlyOddFriendship'': Sunset may be a better person, but bits of old Sunset still pop up. [[spoiler: When Timmy enrages her by calling her an evil witch, she comes very close to slugging him]]. Later, Rainbow notes that Sunset showed a bit of her old self when beating Doombringer; afterward, Twilight assures Sunset that she's just learned to channel her old instincts toward a good cause instead of trying to suppress them.
143	* In the ''Fanfic/FacingTheFutureSeries'', following the events of ''WesternAnimation/PhantomPlanet'', in which she learned Danny's secret, rival [[AntiHero Valerie]] has [[RivalsTeamUp put aside her grudge against him and becoming a member of Team Phantom]]. That said, she ''still'' holds an animosity against all other ghosts and sometimes has to be reeled in against ghosts that are either friendly or neutral.
144	* Ulquiorra Cifer in ''Fanfic/AHollowInEquestria'' works for the diarchy and keeps Equestria safe from threats. However his acceptance of Equestria's core teachings is less than stellar, and he's more than willing to use whatever measure of brutality necessary to get the job done. He would much rather kill a threat than attempt to talk it into surrendering, and the degree of control Celestia and Luna have over him is tenuous at best, amounting to little more than mutual and begrudging trust shared between them.
145	* {{Deconstructed}} in ''Fanfic/MarinetteDupainChengsSpitePlaylist: Remix''. While Chloé becomes more of a LovableAlphaBitch, the fact remains that she's well known as a bullying SpoiledBrat, and since she retains her abrasive personality among most of her peers, they naturally continue seeing her as such. [[BitchInSheepsClothing Lila]] naturally exploits this, not just discrediting ''her'' efforts to [[CassandraTruth expose Lila as a]] ConsummateLiar, but [[MadeOutToBeAJerkass casting shade upon Marinette and Adrien as well]] due to their association with her.
146	* The ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' fanfic ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5394631/1/Monsters Monsters]]'' runs off this concept, saying that as the Wolkenritter have killed in the past, they can be motivated to do so again under the right circumstances, [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge namely their mistress, Hayate, coming to harm]].
147	* In ''FanFic/ItsNotTheRaptorDNA'', Elise the ''Indominus rex'' may no longer be the nigh-unstoppable harbinger of death and destruction she was in ''Film/JurassicWorld'', having finally attained the social structure she was missing throughout most of her life courtesy of Owen Grady and the three surviving members of the Raptor Squad (Blue, Echo, and Delta), but threaten her or those she cares about, and [[BewaretheNiceOnes you'll soon wish you hadn't...]]
148	* The heroes of ''Fanfic/{{Origins}}'', a ''Franchise/MassEffect''[=/=]''Franchise/StarWars''[[spoiler:[=/=]''[=Borderlands=]''[=/=]''[=Halo=]'']] MassiveMultiplayerCrossover, realize this is the case with [[spoiler:Sarah]], simply because while the ex-villain in question has been "nothing but helpful for over a year," that person also remains completely capable of [[PersonOfMassDestruction killing and destroying everything]]. Though said character has [[CharacterDevelopment changed]] of their own accord, Shepard realizes that such changes [[MoralityChain may not stick]] if positive influences such as herself are removed. Considering she, Flanders, and others essentially [[MoralityPet taught this renegade]] [[BlueAndOrangeMorality morals that make sense]] to the cause they are fighting for, Shepard is probably right. Finally averts ReformedButRejected — Shepard even lampshades this.
149	* To an extent, Nao from ''Fanfic/PerfectionIsOverrated'', who remains bitter and cynical compared to the others even after her HeelFaceTurn, although she no longer believes that hurting others in revenge is justified or eases her pain.
150	* Prince Joffrey Baratheon in ''FanFic/PurpleDays''. The GroundhogDayLoop he's trapped in has given him the chance to begin the transition from RoyalBrat and budding monster to TheWisePrince, but he still carries a lot of emotional baggage and still has some sadistic tendencies. He hates himself for it, but he's ''trying''.
151	* Lila is this in ''Webcomic/ScarletLady''. Even after [[HeelFaceTurn becoming a better person]], she still maintains a rather nasty streak, though she now reserves it for those who deserve it. For example, when she and her classmates get an invitation to a party from Chloé, she suggests, "Let's eat her food, trash her hotel, and leave her with the bill. It'll be fuuuun."
152	* ''Fanfic/SomethingLostSomethingFound'': ''[[SatanicArchetype Kiara]]'' of all people is presented this way, insisting that she's genuinely fallen for Ritsuka after initially coming to Chaldea to one-up Meltryllis and avenge her defeat at the latter's hands in SERAPH, to the point that she's perfectly willing to act as his therapist and [[UndyingLoyalty follow him just about anyhere]]. [[spoiler:That said, [[MadLove her affections]] are still [[ItsAllAboutMe as twisted as she is]] and absolutely ''nobody'' buys her claims. Even Ritsuka himself is wary enough of her to have countermeasures prepared should she go rogue (including the Alter Egos, both versions of [[TheAce Gilgamesh]], ''and'' [[GodzillaThreshold the Grand Servants]]), and Chaldea's rules flat-out prohibit any alone time with him outside of their therapy sessions.]]
153	* Zabuza Momochi in ''Fanfic/SonOfTheSannin'' becomes an ally to Konoha, albeit at first only as a way to reduce his sentence after being jailed [[spoiler:for collaborating in the Uchiha insurrection]] and is still as ruthless and bloodthirsty as a fighter as he was in canon. Jiraiya, however, is aware of his nature, and just as a failsafe, he placed a seal in Zabuza's body that allows for tracking and even killing him if he tries something funny.
154	* Snape and Draco have a good amount of that in ''Fanfic/TheAwakeningOfAMagus''. Enough to provide a significant portion of the comic scenes in the fic.
155	* Goro Akechi in ''Fanfic/StartAgain'' thanks to a time-traveling Haru reaching and blackmailing him to stop him from killing Wakaba Ishhiki, which also [[spoiler:prevents him from joining the Conspiracy like in the old timeline]] and leads him to become a genuine Phantom Thief. That said, he still thinks that mental shutdowns and psychotic breakdowns (or rage fugue, as he calls it) are valid strategies against their enemies, and at one point [[spoiler:gave a man set as Haru's fiance a rage fugue so he would end the engagement and allow Haru to continue stopping her father's palace]].
156	* Todd from ''Fanfic/OSMUFanfictionFriction'' is this, just as in canon, but the trope is also given a deconstruction in the form of the urges he has to turn back to the side of evil still bothering him, and him refusing to get involved in any villainous affairs out of fear of JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope and becoming a villain again.
157	--> '''Todd:''' You don't understand. I'm not scared of [Basil Valentine]. But I had to work so hard to give up oddness. It...I still have urges. It's a struggle. It was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. ''[shakes head]'' I don't know if I could put the suit on again. I don't know if I could keep from going over the edge again.
158	** Likewise, Todd in the ''Fanfic/ADipInTheInkwell'' oneshot "Agent Recall" isn't as abhorrently evil as he is portrayed in the episode "Training Day". He has seemingly pulled a HeelFaceTurn but hasn't given up on loving oddness and is uneasy about being re-hired back onto Odd Squad despite Olive being his MoralityPet.
159	[[/folder]]
160
161	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
162	* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe2'' shows that while Gru stopped to be a villain thanks to the events of the [[WesternAnimation/DespicableMe1 first movie]], [[DeadpanSnarker his snarking and sarcastic personality]] stays the same. When he joins a secret agency to fight supervillains, he more or less relies on the same methods, tactics, and instruments he used as a supervillain, now simply on the side of good.
163	* On ''WesternAnimation/IceAge1'', Diego pulls a HeelFaceTurn after befriending Manny and Sid, and remains a [[DeadpanSnarker sarcastic prick]] but with a [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold heart of gold]].
164	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'': The movie is about the titular VillainProtagonist pulling off a HeelFaceTurn and experiencing the good in him. When he's nominated the new protector of Metro City in the end, it shows he didn't lose any of his showman attitude and theatrics he was known for as a supervillain. However, him being more like an AffablyEvil IneffectualSympatheticVillain from the beginning, it makes it easier to see him become a genuine hero who now fully embraces the redeeming qualities he already had in his "evil" days.
165	* Sunset Shimmer in the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls'' series. Despite reforming and joining the heroes as the SixthRanger of the team, one of her first responses to the newest group of villains in the second film is to corner them when they're alone and try to intimidate them, just as she tried with Twilight Sparkle when she was a villain. [[NoSell It doesn't work]]: they flip the script on her by pointing out she's ReformedButRejected. Even once she's fully accepted by the others and becomes the de facto Big Good, she still periodically displays a rather ''nasty'' temper and a bit of an ego when things go off the rails, be it major dimension-spanning threats or someone beating her at a video game, giving blistering {{The Reason You Suck Speech}}es or simply brushing aside their feelings in response.
166	[[/folder]]
167
168	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
169	* ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'': Biff Tannen in the new timeline where he has his own auto detailing business. In [[Film/BackToTheFuture1 the first film]], it's implied Biff is willing to stiff George on a waxing job (until George pushes the issue), and in [[Film/BackToTheFuturePartIII the third film]], he gets aggressive and yells "Butthead" at Marty when he thinks he's some stranger stealing his cleaning supplies. If Biff has genuinely reformed, then it shows he still hasn't fully lost his edge.
170	* Catwoman again in ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises''. Her HeelFaceTurn ultimately comes about by her expanding on her good traits, and Batman encouraging her to consider others more (though she always had a soft spot for the little guy). But even when she has fully completed her HeelFaceTurn and fights alongside Batman, she's still more than willing to use lethal force against lethal force, as opposed to Batman's ThouShaltNotKill [[spoiler:and is the one to plug Bane with the Batpod's cannons]].
171	* ''Film/HowTheGrinchStoleChristmas2000'' has the main character learning the true meaning of Christmas. Even so, he still behaves like a jerk, but his heart is still a half-size too small, so that's good enough for everyone.
172	* The Raptor Squad from ''Film/JurassicWorld'' have been shown to be able to work with humans, but Owen stresses that is due to years of trust-building and training, and even then they are still aggressive predators that will attack their handlers the first chance they get. [[spoiler:They ultimately do turn against the humans and slaughter a whole bunch of them, but they still show enough loyalty to Owen that they do not attack him at first sight.]]
173	[[/folder]]
174
175	[[folder:Literature]]
176	* Accelerator in ''Literature/ACertainMagicalIndex'' killed ten thousand cloned girls who were part of a HiveMind as part of a monstrous experiment supported by the Academy City researchers [[spoiler:and only agreed to it in the first place in the hopes that the results would make him ''so'' powerful that people would stop constantly picking fights with him]], but transitions into TheAtoner and even gets shot in the head and suffers permanent brain damage in order to protect one of them, which results in the remaining ten thousand girls letting him use their neural network to augment his damaged brain functions. He will do good to others, but he'll still behave like an utter jerk in doing so. In fact, he at one point states his intention to troll the very idea of heroism by saving a life in the most violent, bloody manner possible.
177	* In C.S. Lewis' ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'', Edmund Pevensie is actually somewhat of an AntiHero, even after his HeelFaceTurn, because of his constant [[DeadpanSnarker snarkiness]] to, his {{death glare}}s towards, and his temptation to beat the crap out of his cousin [[{{Jerkass}} Eustace]]. And he's almost always [[PerpetualFrowner frowning or scowling]] at him! However, he is kind and polite to everyone else.
178	* In ''Literature/AClockworkOrange'', Billy-Boy (novel)/Georgie (movie) and Dim become policemen after Alex is released from prison and proceed to abuse him when he encounters them.
179	* Severus Snape from ''Franchise/HarryPotter''. Eternally loyal to Dumbledore after his HeelFaceTurn, but still a moody JerkAss (and SternTeacher to an ''extreme'' degree), more than willing to punish Harry for the sins of his father and take revenge on his enemies, and blatantly biased against Gryffindor, but still on the good side.
180	* Verchiel in ''[[Literature/TheFallen End of Days]]'' and after is TheAtoner and wants to be forgiven by God, but he's still a PoliticallyIncorrectHero and his methods of obtaining victory have not stopped their brutality.
181	* Petey The Cat in ''Literature/ Dogman'' Petey used to be an evil villain bend on taking over the world with his invention until his clone/son Lil Petey help his papa change from evil to good but Petey remains a hothead when he his around others and refuse to admit he’s friend with Dogman and co although he really is.
182	* In ''Literature/LucifersStar'', Cassius Mass, the protagonist, underwent a HeelFaceTurn (from the perspective of the rest of the galaxy) when he abandoned serving the [[TheEmpire Archduchy of Crius]]. He became a criminal instead and still holds the same disdain for the Commonwealth and other enemies of his nation from before the war. He does, however, do his best to fight against his people's TheRemnant, though, since they're awful-awful people.
183	* As described on ''Literature/{{Nightside}}'', Razor Eddie, "Punk God of the Straight Razor", is a reformed — but not ''retired'' — SerialKiller, who now targets those who threaten children and the homeless. He's been known to leave buildings soaked in blood but conspicuously absent of corpses; the narration calls him "an extremely disturbing agent of good. The forces of good didn't get a say in the matter".
184	* Daylen in ''Literature/ShadowOfTheConqueror'' used to be an EvilOverlord who would [[OffingTheAnnoyance order executions for the smallest infractions]]. After setting out on his RedemptionQuest, he is determined to NeverHurtAnInnocent but retains his HairTriggerTemper and [[PayEvilUntoEvil penchant for brutality]].
185	* Angelina in ''Literature/TheStainlessSteelRat'' enters the series as a ruthless, extremely violent criminal before Jim [=DiGriz=] was sent to bring her in. As a member of the Special Corps, she is marginally less ruthless and somewhat less violent, thanks in part to seeking out ''[[HeelFaceBrainwashing psycho surgery]]'' to take the edge off her homicidal tendencies and eventually [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove falling in love]] with Jim. Still, there is a definite MoralityChain element to her relationships with her husband and children.
186	* In ''Literature/{{Worm}}'', [[spoiler:[[VillainProtagonist Taylor]]]] defects to the superheroes late in the story, but retains her [[PragmaticHero calculated brutality]] in spite of the SlaveToPR tendencies of the heroes.
187	[[/folder]]
188
189	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
190	* ''Series/{{Ahsoka}}'': Anakin Skywalker shows shades of this from beyond the grave. While he redeemed himself and returned to the Light Side as a Force Ghost, his spirit is still willing to deliberately evoke the ruthlessness of his past as Vader in his lesson to Ahsoka.
191	* ''Series/{{Arrow}}'': Pretty much every main character has to shed some kind of dark past. Ollie himself is an ActionSurvivor, former unofficial US black-ops agent, and a member of the Russian mob. Throughout the show, he goes from a murderous vigilante to a man who avoids killing whenever possible, though it's never completely off the cards...
192	** In Arrow's sister series ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'', Mick Rory starts as an AxCrazy PsychoPartyMember who's often TheLoad actively working against the team in the first season, to the point that he's an unofficial villain in this period. He eventually comes around but never stops being a gruff, angry, hot-tempered, alcoholic BloodKnight who will spend entire missions in a drunken stupor.
193	* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': Faith post-HeelFaceTurn is very much a darker version of Buffy, particularly in this spinoff, where to the series’ end she's immoral, rough 'n tumble, and aggressive. It would be exaggerated earlier in the comics before she takes a big dose of maturity, and is now regarded InUniverse as better than the main character (who went off the deep end in the previous season).
194	* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': Spike started off as a villain in season 2, but by season 4 (partially due to a dose of BadassDecay) he sometimes worked with the Scoobies and he pretty much joined them during Season 5, while still keeping his mean streak as a vampire, which got even more of a showing in season 6 due to a mutually abusive relationship with Buffy before he went and got his soul back and remained on the side of good. Season 7 had him out of his mind due to said soul, but he stayed on the side of good, only to regress when on ''Angel'' and during the ''After the Fall'' comics. After a lot of soul searching in season 9, he rejoins the group in season 10 and has fully settled on good.
195	* ''Series/{{Farscape}}'': Bialar Crais was the StarterVillain for the first season, chasing after the heroes until Scorpius came and took his place. While he underwent a HeelFaceTurn and backslid a couple of times, he never seems to lose his nasty streak.
196	* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Sandor Clegane is a better person after his near-death experience, but it hasn't softened him up very much. He even considers Beric and company "a bunch of Nancys" because they won't let him execute the outlaws who massacred his village with his axe. He didn't deride them as weak because they wouldn't let him execute them — they were going to execute them — he jeered at them for not letting him ''torture'' them a bit first.
197	* ''Series/{{iCarly}}'' antagonist Nora Dershlit had kidnapped the main cast twice and even tried to kill Sam in ''Series/SamAndCat''. She reappears in [[Series/ICarly2021 the 2021 revival]] of ''iCarly'', only this time she's undergone many years of psychological help and claims to have changed for the better. While she is no longer violent or willing to hold people captive, she still is not completely sane and stalks Carly and Freddie until Carly tells her to stop. Nora apologizes and leaves them alone.
198	* ''Series/LegendOfTheSeeker'': Cara retains a strong vicious streak after her HeelFaceTurn. Understandable, considering that training Mord-Sith includes massive amounts of [[KickTheDog dog-kicking]] and [[BreakTheCutie cutie-breaking]].
199	* ''Series/OnceUponATime'': Regina is an example of a character who undergoes a realistic HeelFaceTurn. She is still depressed and bitter, and still holds a grudge against someone who is innocent, and not a lot of people trust her. But she stops her daily KickTheDog habits and doesn't act on her IrrationalHatred, and despite never returning to her [[TheCutie sweet]], [[TheIngenue childish]] pre-FaceHeelTurn persona, she shows that [[PetTheDog it's]] [[LoveMartyr not]] ''[[StoicWoobie quite]]'' [[StepfordSmiler gone]].
200	** Her sister Zelena qualifies too, as does Captain Hook to a lesser extent. Rumpelstiltskin also counts [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor whenever he's actually on the side of good at that particular moment.]]
201	* On ''Series/OrphanBlack'', [[spoiler:after joining Clone Club, Helena]] goes from being an enemy LaserGuidedTykeBomb to being an {{unscrupulous\|Hero}}ly anti-heroic PsychoPartyMember.
202	* Root of ''Series/PersonOfInterest'' starts out as an antagonist of early seasons and ends up joining Team Machine for her own reasons later. She's still pretty quick to revert to violence and never seems entirely sane, mostly because she believes that The Machine is a sentient deity whose orders Root follows.
203	* ''Series/{{Revolution}}'': Miles Matheson might seem like such a jerk at first glance. But as flashbacks reveal, he used to be far worse as a WellIntentionedExtremist and KnightTemplar. Now, he is a PragmaticHero lapsing into UnscrupulousHero every now and then.
204	* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': Elim Garak is no longer an assassin and torturer for the sinister Obsidian Order, but to defeat Dominion (and thus free his beloved homeworld Cardassia from their rule) he's still willing to do '''anything''', no matter how ruthless.
205	* Meg from ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' allied with Team Free Will in Seasons 7 and 8 against Crowley, but remained very much a demon. She became a HeroicComedicSociopath, and her primary motivation was AvengingTheVillain who Crowley had earlier helped the Winchesters defeat.
206	* Damon Salvatore on ''Series/TheVampireDiaries''. He's a good guy, but he's definitely not a nice guy.
207	[[/folder]]
208
209	[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
210	* This is quite common in the professional wrestling world. A good number of wrestlers begun their careers as heels but were so loved by the fans that they just have to turn face despite still behaving the same way they started. Basically the only change is that they start feuding with Heels instead of Faces, and stop [[CheapHeat insulting the audience in their promos]]. A noticeable example is Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin during the rise of his popularity.
211	* Wrestlers who previously had a FaceHeelTurn, but then turned back into a face also qualify. [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]] started as the clear-cut face "Rocky Maivia", but [[XPacHeat wasn't well received]]. Then along came his heel turn and repackaging under his now-iconic gimmick as The Rock (which he's described as basically being himself with the volume turned up), and [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap a lot of fans were behind him]]. He turned face after being kicked out of Wrestling/TheCorporation, but still continues his backstage bullying and remains one of the biggest [[TrashTalk trash-talkers]] in pro wrestling.
212	* Wrestling/{{MJF}} was formerly one of the most notorious [[Main/{{Heel}} Heels]] in all of professional wrestling, especially when he entered Wrestling/AllEliteWrestling. He was a smarmy, egotistical, bigoted, cowardly bully who would pull any dirty tactic imaginable in order to get what he wanted. While he eventually made a HeelFaceTurn as a result of his newfound friendship with Wrestling/AdamCole, MJF himself barely changed his behavior. He's more than willing to cheat in matches (even cheating more often than some of the Heels he wrestles against) and remains as egotistical and prone to making offensive comments as ever. Max himself sums it up during one of his promos.
213	-->'''MJF''': I'm not gonna change overnight. For crying out loud, I'm still a scumbag, don't get me wrong. But GOD DAMMIT, I AM READY TO BE ''YOUR'' SCUMBAG!
214	* Wrestling/IvelisseVelez entered Shine Wrestling with two goals, to become the best woman wrestler in the world and torment the people who had wronged her friends. What initiated her official HeelFaceTurn was the realization that those [[EtTuBrute she thought]] were her friends in the Valkyrie PowerStable were not as dedicated to her as she them and that the people worth being friends with were being constantly tormented by Valkyrie and two other stables. Her [[StartMyOwn own power stable]], Las Sicarias, had the exact same mission statement as Valkyrie but quickly moved away from abusing Shine management and officials to those actively imperiling her friends, friends she welcomed to challenge for title belts [[BenevolentBoss even if she held them]]. Still, Velez's desire to be the best occasionally became all-consuming, allowing her enemies [[BatManGambit to stir]] up {{di\|videandconquer}}scension in Las Sicarias.
215	* Wrestling/MercedesMartinez had been wronged or let down by so many allies in her professional wrestling career that she became a vocal loner in Wrestling/{{SHIMMER}} until Wrestling/CheerleaderMelissa got her to chill out a little...[[VillainousFriendship not]] that that [[VillainTeamUp was a good thing]]. Melissa wasn't in SHIMMER's spinoff Shine Wrestling and it soon lost continuity with SHIMMER, [[CharacterExaggeration exaggerating]] Martinez's antisocial streak. She basically ruined as many gatherings of baby {{face}}s as possible because getting together disgusted her while doing nothing about the rampaging heel stables because they weren't her problem. Her face turn came after an unsuccessful title match with Shine Champion Ivelisse Velez, whom Martinez had criticized for getting the belt through Valkyrie. Velez gained enough of Martinez's respect that when Valkyrie came to put another beating on Velez Martinez helped fight them off. Still, Martinez remained a vocal loner as a face and insisted on fighting the Valkyrie stable alone, to [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption predictable results]]. Martinez continued to mock Velez's social behavior when she formed Las Sicarias PowerTrio with Amanda Rodriguez and [[Wrestling/BlackRose La Rosa Nega]], to the point she shooed Velez out of the arena while Velez was watching the two in TagTeam match. Mercedes took pity on Amanda and La Rosa when members of the expanded [[LegionOfDoom VALkyrie]] ganged up on them to steal the match, so she hit the ring to try and stop the post-match beatdown, to [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption predictable results]]. Finally Martinez realized she couldn't beat an entire stable on her own and officially joined Las Sicarias. While proving vital in Las Sicaria's ultimate victory over [=VALkyrie=], Martinez remained overly combative with a very patient Velez, contributing to Las Sicaria's ultimate defeat at the hands of [=C4=]. And even after realizing her mistake there, Wrestling/AllysinKay was still able to take advantage of Martinez's abrasiveness to turn her against Velez. Then set up an ambush with Better Than You while [[HereWeGoAgain Martinez was alone]].
216	[[/folder]]
217
218	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
219	* In ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy'', Malekith the Witch King was the EvilOverlord ruler of the sadistic Dark Elves. He made a HeelFaceTurn during the end times, and come ''TabletopGame/WarhammerAgeOfSigmar'', it seems to have stuck (unlike Nagash, who eventually went back to being a GodOfEvil). Having now become Malerion, the God of Shadow, he's a staunch ally of Sigmar's Pantheon of Order and willing to engage in TeethClenchedTeamwork with his former ArchEnemy Tyrion -- but as noted, "darkness and lies are as meat and drink to him" despite still being "a creature of order at heart." Being on relatively good side now hasn't stopped him from spying on his erstwhile allies just in case, and he's still TheDreaded to everyone in his home Realm of Ulgu.
220	[[/folder]]
221
222	[[folder:Video Games]]
223	* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'': The Arkham Knight keeps his lethal ways after adapting the much more heroic [[spoiler:Red Hood]] identity.
224	* ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIIThroneOfBhaal'': [[spoiler:Sarevok]], if you allow him to join your party and you're not following an evil path. He will help you, with his former ambition now long gone, even while still being evil but willing to support you. Then, you have the possibility to turn him into a good character. At that point he will be some kind of KnightInSourArmor, still keeping his lethal skills (including the [[spoiler:deathbringer assault]]), and with a gloomy attitude that is reflected in the game epilogue (which describes him as restless and tormented). The change of alignment depends on previous dialogue choices.
225	** Possibly enforced or subverted in the popular semi-official mod ''Ascension'': the BigBad will offer him the possibility to betray you, at that point he might refuse (even if still evil) or straightly join, depending again on previous choices.
226	* Jin from ''Franchise/BlazBlue'' didn't really start off as a villain, but he was a [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish asshole who was only really concerned about his own problems]]. He gets some CharacterDevelopment in the [[VideoGame/BlazblueContinuumShift second game]] and pulls a HeelFaceTurn to fight against the villains, along with [[TookALevelInBadass taking several levels in badassery to boot]]. He's only ''slightly'' less of an {{Jerkass}}, though, and still treats people with both apathy and aloofness, ''especially'' if it's [[IrrationalHatred Noel Vermillion]].
227	* Magus of ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' appears to be a stone-cold, intimidating {{Jerkass}} villain before and after your first confrontation with him. Should you forgo the second showdown, Magus realizes that you and he share the same goals and he joins you — as a stone-cold, intimidating {{Jerkass}} hero.
228	* ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}'' has Susie, a [[TheBerserker berserker]] monster party member who prefers to solve everything through violence instead of using the morally rewarding [[PacifistRun mercy system]]. She mellows out and becomes friendlier by the end of the first chapter, but she's still rather rude, and her [=ACTs=] will usually involve a harmless form of aggression.
229	* After the events of ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'', Vergil has become this. He's still Vergil the same ruthless, stoic NobleDemon that the fans know and love, driven by a desire to become stronger and surpass his Brother, Dante. It's just that he's channeling all of that in a much healthier direction. Case in point, his relationship with Dante has gone from the bitter, antagonistic, and somewhat tragic relationship that they had in the past, and has mellowed out significantly into a much healthier FriendlyRivalry.
230	* Joshua Graham from ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' actually had a HeelFaithTurn after becoming one of the most ruthless and cruel men in the Legion. Even though he now fights for a noble cause, he still retains his ferocity and murderous mentality. A [[PlayerCharacter Courier]] with a silver enough tongue may be able to stay his hand against [[AntiClimaxBoss Salt-Up]][[DirtyCoward on-Wounds]] and make him cool down his militancy, however.
231	* Several Spotpass characters in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' go this way, or ReformedButRejected. YMMV on which, especially as they have very different supports depending on the Avatar's gender.
232	* Nero in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' defects from TheEmpire when he fails to defeat the [[PlayerCharacter Warrior of Light]]. He joins Cid's workshop and by extension, the Eorzea Alliance, because he knows returning to the Garlean Empire's homeland would get him executed. Nero does mellow out a little bit, but he still retains his [[InsufferableGenius smarmy genius attitude]] and he still desires to surpass Cid so he can prove that he's the superior engineer.
233	* ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'': Kratos as of the Norse saga has given up on bloody vengeance against the gods, but that doesn't make him ''like'' them; he's just decided that he wants nothing to do with all the crazy and just wants to live a quiet life in the woods with his new family. Provoke him ([[PapaWolf easily accomplished by threatening said family]]), and you'll learn that he's very much still capable of going on those godslaying rampages.
234	* ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'':
235	** Susie from ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot'' is usually this. She once started off as a villain but then she decides that she wants to stand up to Star Dream, so she commands Kirby to go after it. In ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'', it is implied that she still retains her traits from the previous game, but she's still civil, good-natured, well-meaning, and friendly.
236	** Marx made his debut as one of the central villains of ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'' and, after making a few reappearances since then, joined Kirby and his friends to take down a universal threat in ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies''. Unlike [[VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand Magolor]] (who has permanently joined the side of good) or [[VideoGame/KirbyAndTheAmazingMirror Dark Meta Knight]] (whose motives are [[TokenEvilTeammate shady at best]]), Marx doesn't seem to have any particular allegiance, instead preferring to hang out with his friends, have some good food, and spread some [[ThePrankster mischief]]. The end result is a teammate who's simultaneously one of the most and least trustworthy.
237	* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfAmbrose'':
238	** ''VideoGame/KnightEternal'': Even long after Alduin's HeelFaceTurn in ''VideoGame/KnightBewitched'', he can be haughty and irritable, especially when he's bickering with Stray over how to best restore Halonia.
239	** ''VideoGame/CelestialHearts'': Lissandra may have left the Drakon Cult, but the original party considered her a WildCard who is still amoral in pursuing her own goals. She tried to steal the Eye of Destruction behind their backs, so they took Hermes's staff from her and sealed it away. [[spoiler:When she resurfaces as Silnastra, she helps the party restore Helen's consciousness in exchange for them getting the staff back for her]].
240	* ''Franchise/MegaMan'':
241	** Proto Man used to work for Dr. Wily [[VideoGame/MegaMan3 in his debut]] (as he felt indebted to Wily for repairing him) and constantly fights against his brother [[VideoGame/MegaManClassic Mega Man]], but after being defeated, he soon turned from [[CainAndAbel enemy big brother]] to AloofBigBrother.
242	* In ''VideoGame/Persona5Royal'', [[spoiler:Goro Akechi]], the SixthRangerTraitor of the original game, becomes this. His RoaringRampageOfRevenge is over, so he goes full AntiHero and engages in a RivalsTeamUp with the protagonist. However, he doesn't admit any remorse for his acts, is still perfectly prepared to shoot first and ask questions later, and generally demonstrates he was a BitchInSheepsClothing all along.
243	* In ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}'', the BigBad of the game turns out to be [[spoiler:Morceau Oleander, [[TheNapoleon a pint-sized, military-crazed coach]] who's been turned into a would-be world conqueror by Psitanium poisoning agitating [[FreudianExcuse his unresolved personal issues]]]]. ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts 2}}'' shows that while the real [[spoiler:Coach Oleander]] is a pretty amiable guy, he's still rather belligerent and obsessed with building [[DistinctionWithoutADifference "peace machines"]] to violently deal with psychic threats to the world.
244	** ''VideoGame/PsychonautsInTheRhombusOfRuin'': [[spoiler:While inside his mind, Raz returns Loboto's moral compass to him, which Loboto thought he had lost long ago. Once Raz steps out of his mind, Loboto realizes that what he's doing is wrong and orders his guards to free Raz and his friends... only to trigger his lab's self-destruct mechanism before telling everyone to leave. He's reformed, but he's still insane.]]
245	* The player characters in ''Raid: WWII'' are criminals from their homelands that are drafted into service by the British military to fight against the Nazis. By doing so, they will be pardoned for all their crimes, but they won't be acknowledged as heroes in the public eye. They become the AntiHero archetype where they do anything to kill Nazis in any way possible to reduce Hitler's power. On top of that, the crew are also allowed to steal the Nazis' gold and other valuables to keep for themselves. While the crew are still committing heinous crimes, they are doing so for the greater good, since their enemy is ''far'' worse and are a huge threat to the world. None of the crew members mind being in service and prefer it over going back home and being jailed or executed for their original crimes.
246	* Various characters of the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' series started off as enemies of Sonic, but even after they joined his side, they can still be found clashing against Sonic on occasion due to circumstances or contrasting lifestyles and personalities.
247	** Knuckles started off as a HeroAntagonist to Sonic, thinking he was out to steal the Chaos Emeralds. After learning Dr. Eggman's lies, he graduates into a [[VitriolicBestBuds grudging]], yet loyal friend to Sonic, and also a JerkWithAHeartOfGold.
248	** Shadow pulls a HeelFaceTurn after Amy convinces him to save the world, thus [[HeroicSacrifice sacrificing himself to prevent the Space Colony ARK from crashing to earth]]. Even after his return to the series (amnesia aside), Shadow still remains stoic, deadly serious, and quite cold towards everyone around him and remains as TheRival to Sonic.
249	* ''VideoGame/StarCraftIIHeartOfTheSwarm'': To a certain extent, Kerrigan might be this. Despite being morphed back to a human form at the end of ''Wings of Liberty'', she still bears a lot of grudge and resentment against Mengsk, while still being capable of controlling the Zerg, and refuses Raynor's pledges of leaving with him because "until Mengsk lives, there can be no ''us''". After she is deceived into thinking that Raynor is dead, she pursues a full-scale quest for revenge against him. While definitely not being any more the murderous Queen of Blades, and showing crescent mercy and care for the innocent, she kills Warfield in a burst of rage, and goes to the point of dooming to death a Protoss colony that threatened her (stating that both parties killed members of the other faction and so, from her point of view, everybody was guilty of killing). She then returns to Zerg form, although in the Primal Zerg form, which is free from the evil influence of Amon, and eventually sieges Mengsk's fortress. Here she is ultimately willing to spare innocent victims, allowing Valerian and Raynor to evacuate the city before her final assault.
250	* The Star Wolf team in ''Franchise/StarFox'' started as mercenaries and {{Evil Counterpart}}s to the Star Fox team. They even worked for Andross in ''VideoGame/StarFox64'' to take down Fox. In the later games, they graduate into [[AntiHero anti-heroes]] who will sometimes, and grudgingly, [[EnemyMine team up with Star Fox in their missions]].
251	* ''VideoGame/StellarBewitching'': If the player wins the secret boss fight against [[spoiler:Misha, she convinces Pokie to stop letting grief consume him, resulting in him becoming less AxCrazy, but still somewhat insulting towards the party. While he does spare Sedrick, he makes it clear that Sedrick only has ten seconds to give up Floryn's book before he changes his mind]].
252	* Sagat from ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' aligns himself with [[BigBad Shadaloo]] after suffering a loss to Ryu in the first ''SF'' tournament. He [[HeelRealization realizes]] that his revenge-driven desire to defeat Ryu isn't the right path, so in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha 3'', he reforms from his ways but still retains a heated yet [[WorthyOpponent healthy]] rivalry with Ryu.
253	* Wario of the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' started as a villain in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand2SixGoldenCoins'' and as a VillainProtagonist in the ''VideoGame/WarioLand'' series. After that, while he isn't all that villainous anymore, he still retains his lust for money and is still a jerk because of it. The enemies he's pitted against in his own outings [[BlackAndGrayMorality are usually far worse than he is]], which, when coupled with Wario's own shortcomings and slapstick nature of his games, makes it hilariously easy to root for him as the "hero" in those situations. This also comes into play in the ''VideoGame/WarioWare'' series; for the most part, he's a legit video game developer but has a nasty habit of stiffing his friends/employees out of their well-earned compensation.
254	[[/folder]]
255
256	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
257	* Miles Edgeworth in ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' starts off as an arrogant PersecutingProsecutor who always seems to be one step ahead of Phoenix and baits him into making a fool of himself with trap questions and evidence held back until just the right moment. After a HeelFaceTurn and a lot of CharacterDevelopment...he does exactly the same, with the important difference that he is trying to make his best case that the defendant being guilty is the ''truth''. If Phoenix can come up with a counter-explanation that satisfies him (especially if it points to someone else as the guilty party), Edgeworth will help him make his case, even though it means a 'loss' for him.
258	[[/folder]]
259
260	[[folder:Web Animation]]
261	* In ''[[WebAnimation/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers SMG4]]'',[=SMG3=], the evil counterpart of [[AuthorAvatar SMG4]], long-time villain and main antagonist of the [=YouTube=] arc gave up on trying to usurp [=SMG4=] and ruin his life after finding his true purpose as Guardian of the Internet Graveyard and slowly develops mutual respect for [=SMG4=] over the Genesis and Revelations Arcs but his villainous tendencies never left him. He'll still make a grab for ultimate power if the chance presents itself and ruin Christmas just to be a dick.
262	[[/folder]]
263
264	[[folder:Web Comics]]
265	* In ''Webcomic/JupiterMen'', Arrio is a former gang member who has since gone completely straight. But he retains his troublemaking, mischievous streak, as shown when he "borrows" a new video game from his friend Jude without letting him know. He also swipes Nathan's car when the latter left his keys in it and admits that he's always wanted to be the one doing the chasing in a car chase.
266	* ''Webcomic/SuperRivals'': Former supervillain Latex Scorpion is making a legitimate effort to comply with the reform program, but she still has a rebellious, ruthless streak.
267	* ''Webcomic/YetAnotherFantasyGamerComic'': Lewstrom the Lich King decides to turn over a new leaf when he realizes that being an Evil Overlord has (A) left him under the thrall of a goddess who doesn't actually care about his identity, and (B) he completely forgot all his original ambitions, including his reason to exist. That doesn't stop him from being an evil bastard who loves to experiment on prisoners, but now he gains power and status by working under contract with the kingdoms and killing worse psychopaths.
268	[[/folder]]
269
270	[[folder:Web Video]]
271	* ''WebVideo/AfterlifeSMP'': After going from the Vampire origin to the Angel origin, Scott officially quits being a [[CardCarryingVillain villain]], but states he has no intention of going fully good either, instead becoming a "vengeful" angel who ''chooses'' to be spiteful rather than a do-gooder, IncorruptiblePurePureness type.
272	[[/folder]]
273
274	[[folder:Western Animation]]
275	* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': Flame King decides to stop trying to take over the Fire Kingdom and tries to live a peaceful life instead in "Bun Bun", but "Son of Rap [=BeaR=]" shows he's not willing to apologize for his crappy behavior towards his daughter Flame Princess.
276	* Iago becomes good in ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheReturnOfJafar'', which continues through ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheSeries'', and while he no longer serves an evil vizier, there are still numerous times when his temper and insatiable greed get the better of him. [[spoiler:He rides into the sunset with Aladdin's father Cassim at the end of ''WesternAnimation/AladdinAndTheKingOfThieves'', partially because said thief was "good, but not too good".]]
277	* Angelica Pickles, in ''WesternAnimation/AllGrownUp'', is much less antagonistic and considerably nicer than she was in ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'', even if still prone to mischievous and selfish behavior.
278	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'': An anti-heroic example: [[Characters/ArcherSterlingArcher Sterling Archer]] TookALevelInKindness in Season 6 after [[spoiler:becoming a father]], but still retains his reckless attitude and HairTriggerTemper.
279	* ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'':
280	** Dinobot is a Predacon who makes a HeelFaceTurn and joins the Maximals right in the first episode. However, he does it for completely selfish reasons (seeking revenge against his former leader) and keeps his Predacon philosophy and attitude even while working with the Maximals, [[TeethClenchedTeamwork frequently leading to arguments between them]]. Still, he always was a NobleDemon at his core, so he manages to get along with them eventually. [[spoiler:As the story progresses, he goes through a lot of CharacterDevelopment and ends up doing a HeroicSacrifice.]]
281	** Similar to Dinobot, [[spoiler:Blackarachnia]] ends up joining the Maximals while keeping the attitude she had as a Predacon.
282	--->"Even when I'm good, I'm still bad."
283	* Kuzco from ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewGroove'' is a lesser example. In the movie, he's a selfish, self-centered jerk who plots to bulldoze the entire village for his own profit and almost left Pacha for dead, but had a change of heart and becomes good friends with Pacha. In ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewSchool'', however, he still behaves like a jerk and his heart of gold doesn't show very often.
284	** In the series, his selfishness isn't as bad as it was in the movie, and it was out of his stupidity most of the time. However, by Kronk's New Groove, he finished his character development but was still as flamboyant as ever. His selfishness, however, seems to have been toned down to a much more reasonable amount. Overall it seemed his ego and flamboyance didn't go away, but he's not throwing beggars off his castle and demolishing villages for ego projects anymore.
285	* David Xanatos from ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'' arguably never had a HeelFaceTurn; he simply stopped being an enemy to the Gargoyles. (Granted, he was grateful they saved his [[MoralityPet son]].)
286	* In the GrandFinale of ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'', Gideon Gleeful had a HeelFaceTurn and resolves to give up evil-doing... which doesn't stop him from siccing his prison buddies on [[DisproportionateRetribution a kid who made fun of him]].
287	* The Conductor/[[spoiler: Amelia]] of ''WesternAnimation/InfinityTrain'' starts the show as the BigBad and GreaterScopeVillain for latter seasons. She's responsible for hampering both the train's effectiveness and the CharacterDevelopment of various innocent passengers for ''decades'', all due to her own selfish obsessions. By the time she reappears in Book 3, she's cooled her jets significantly and is actively working to fix her mistakes... but not without some severe snark and cynicism.
288	-->'''The Conductor:''' (reading a notecard with ''no'' enthusiasm) Every passenger is important. Their well-being and progress is what the train is all about. All aboard the growth train. (imitates pulling a chain) Toot-toot. [[DeadpanSnarker Whee!]]
289	* ''WesternAnimation/KipoAndTheAgeOfWonderbeasts'': [[spoiler:Scarlemagne for most of Season 3. His character development continues from the end of Season 2 where he goes from Kipo's prisoner to someone aware he's changing and going along with it reluctantly to someone who sees Kipo as a younger sister, genuinely believes in her vision for a better world, and will do anything to see it come to fruition. Which includes killing the new BigBad Dr. Emelia, until Wolf convinces him otherwise. But even then in the final battle, he's laughing maniacally as he did when he was still a villain.]]
290	* ''WesternAnimation/KulipariDreamWalker'' has Pigo. He may have joined Darel's side, but as a scorpion, he still has a taste for dominance and violence.
291	* ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries'' gives us mostly reformed evil super-genius Jumba. Still loves mad science, but has a conscience now.
292	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
293	** [[Characters/FriendshipIsMagicDiscord Discord]], antagonist of the season 2 opener "The Return of Harmony", is reformed by Fluttershy at the end of the season 3 episode "Keep Calm and Flutter On", but clearly demonstrates afterward that he's still as big a {{Troll}} as ever. He slowly attempts to take on the role of a TricksterMentor, with varying levels of success, and still has some villainous tendencies pop up whenever he feels his friendship with Fluttershy is being threatened in some way. Season 7's "Discordant Harmony" also shows that he ''has'' to act chaotic, or otherwise he would ''fade out of existence''.
294	** [[Characters/FriendshipIsMagicPrincessLuna Princess Luna]] in the Season 2 episode "Luna Eclipsed". Princess Luna still speaks in a booming voice early on, AKA the "Royal Canterlot Voice," which went out of style while she was imprisoned in the moon. This, combined with her past reputation as Nightmare Moon, makes every other pony scared of Luna. She manages to soften her approach by the end of that episode, and later in the series she has escaped her ZeroPercentApprovalRating to be beloved by at least the children of Equestria, but she's still got an edge to her, handing out [[BrutalHonesty unvarnished truths]] and dire warnings whenever possible.
295	** Trixie as well, at the end of "Magic Duel". Although she gives a heartfelt and very sincere apology, she is still as hammy and conceited as ever. Just more apologetic, that's all.
296	--->'''Trixie''': Don't you think the Great and ''Apologetic'' Trixie is the most magnificent and humble pony you have ever seen?\
297	'''Twilight Sparkle''': ''(Rolls eyes, then smiles a little)''
298	** In the season 5 finale "The Cutie Re-Mark", [[Characters/FriendshipIsMagicStarlightGlimmer Starlight Glimmer]] has a HeelFaceTurn and becomes Twilight Sparkle's student, learning about magic and friendship from her. A few episodes show Starlight's got a lot to learn, especially "Every Little Thing She Does", where she decides it's acceptable to use ''mind control'' to get a bunch of friendship lessons done at once.
299	*** In Season 7, Starlight has long learned her lesson about using mind control on others, but she still has something of a temper, and when she hears other ponies antagonizing [[ShrinkingViolet Fluttershy]] in "Fame and Misfortune", she doesn't hesitate to levitate one of the offenders in the air and menace him.
300	* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': Amity Blight started out as an AcademicAlphaBitch who would antagonize Luz and her friends. Following a HeelRealization in "Lost in Language", she starts becoming nicer. However, "Enchanting Grom Fright" shows that, while she's accepted that she needs to become a better person, she isn't magically going to completely improve immediately, like when she calls someone ''she'' bumped into a "Nitwit", or when she beats up Hooty for getting into her personal space.
301	* Buford van Stomm from ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' started out as a stereotypical BarbaricBully. He later became a much more sympathetic character and [[BullyTurnedBuddy befriended Phineas and Ferb]], but he still considers himself a bully and frequently bullies his [[VitriolicBestBuds vitriolic best bud]] Baljeet.
302	* Asajj Ventress in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' qualifies. She undergoes a MoralityAdjustment but openly acknowledges to Obi-Wan that the only side she cares about is (still) her own.
303	* ''WesternAnimation/XMen97'': After losing his best friend, Professor Xavier, and subsequently named the inheriter of his estate in his last will and testament, Magneto undergoes a radical HeelFaceTurn as he vows to honor the Professor's wishes and strive for peaceful coexistence between mutants and humans. He still harbors some mutant supremacist ideals, and while remorseful, he still feels justified in his past actions, but is making the attempt to be better and show mercy and compassion to those he would otherwise have killed without a second thought.
304	[[/folder]]

Context Main / ReformedButNotTamed