Character Derailment

[Inkingsama]

Be it book, movies, videogames or any other form of media, what are some prime examples of character derailment? If you don't know what character derailment is, TV Tropes defines it as

When an established character becomes largely different, exhibiting behavior contrary to what has been previously shown. This is not a matter of organic growth. Rather than gradually changing in response to events and experiences, a derailed character will exhibit shockingly unusual behavior that implies malfeasance or incompetence on the part of the writers. In published fiction, derailment is usually caused by an author having a certain story idea and needing to stretch the characters' personality to fit.

The only example that i know (or remember) is Aya Brea in The 3rd Birthday

Coming from Parasite Eve 1 and 2, Aya was a fearless cop ready to jump into action to fight horrid creatures, while also showing a soft side from time to time when she felt insecure about her mithocondrial powers. In The 3rd Birthday however, Aya is an insecure rookie on her first day on the job, in part due to the fact that in T3B she has amnesia to allow time travel nonsense to happen but also because

Spoiler

she is actually a different person. In this game, Aya is not Aya but Eve, her 12 years old adopted sister, in control of Aya's body

And although that explains a lot of the things that Aya does and says in the game, it doesn't justify the treatment that she got from the writers. If Aya didn't fit the protagonist that they wanted for their messy time travel story, why turn her into an amnesiac to allow such story to be told instead of doing something else?

It was deliberate, there is no other explanation. The writers or the director or whoever, wanted the game to be time travel stuff with an amnesiac protagonist, a role that Aya doesn't fit, but they also wanted to use Aya and have the big plot twist at the end. They forsook Aya's entire characterization in favour of a plot hole ridden story JUST for that. What a joke.

Spoiler

Also, the real Aya gets killed at the end and Eve stays in her body. Just to add salt and lemon into the wound.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

Honestly? Someone could write a paper on how this has happened to the entire cast of RWBY... it's almost amazing how badly the whole thing was handled.

 

[Octopus]

Johanna Dark going from the original Perfect Dark to Zero, though I guess technically Zero is a prequel so it's more her derailing into being a better character. She went from being a no nonsense spy lady in the first game with a conservative haircut to...whatever she was in Zero.

I would also say Anders from the Dragon Age games; he first appeared in the expansion for Origins as a snarky but harmless mage who just wanted to be left alone (and even says at one point 'I don't think mages should ever break apart from the chantry/templars'), then reappears in 2 as a completely militant zealot mage terrorist.

 

[Strategist's iconStrategist]

In the era of remakes and reboots, there are far too many to mention.

 

[Adrastia]

Kelly Bundy comes to mind. She's the iconic "dumb as a post" blonde stereotype. But in the very beginning of the series, around the first season or two, she wasn't really that dumb at all. She was a snarky teenager often annoyed and embarrassed by her family. As the series progressed she became dumber and dumber. It's hard to imagine her character any other way. But the original incarnation was cool too. Very much like the kind of girls I used to idolize in the 80s when I was in elementary school.

Al from Step By Step. She was the quintessential tomboy. But as she got older the character became more stereotypically feminine and lost some of what made her unique. It's like the creators couldn't fathom that a teen girl might still be heavily into sports and not all that interested in fashion. She just ended up looking like everyone else instead of her unique self. I think they knew that a lot of guys were watching for the hot MILF and her three hot daughters. So might as well roll with it.

Steve Urkel was a weird one too. He was originally a one shot character meant to be Laura's nerdy blind date. But audiences loved him so much that he was brought back as a regular and then became a main cast member. I know it's hard to Imagine Family Matters without him. But he was never intended to be the main focus. He evolved from being extremely nerdy and annoying to a scientific genius cartoon character who turned the show into a sci fi sitcom. But that's why kids tuned in and that's why the show lasted so long.

But my favorite Family Matters character will always be Waldo Geraldo Faldo.

 

[Smiley Cat]

 

[dropsmegamega]

There are too many examples. But the latest I have experienced is the evil aligned companions of BG2 that reappear in Baldur's Gate 3, who become literally just servants of their evil deities(even if that contradicts their established endings) with 0 personality and that you battle 30 seconds after meeting then. Meanwhile the good aligned companions of BG2 that reappear in 3 can join your party, have their own quests and a lot of thought and care by the writers. Go figure.

 

[Strategist's iconStrategist]

Kelly Bundy comes to mind. She's the iconic "dumb as a post" blonde stereotype. But in the very beginning of the series, around the first season or two, she wasn't really that dumb at all. She was a snarky teenager often annoyed and embarrassed by her family. As the series progressed she became dumber and dumber. It's hard to imagine her character any other way. But the original incarnation was cool too. Very much like the kind of girls I used to idolize in the 80s when I was in elementary school.

Al from Step By Step. She was the quintessential tomboy. But as she got older the character became more stereotypically feminine and lost some of what made her unique. It's like the creators couldn't fathom that a teen girl might still be heavily into sports and not all that interested in fashion. She just ended up looking like everyone else instead of her unique self. I think they knew that a lot of guys were watching for the hot MILF and her three hot daughters. So might as well roll with it.

Steve Urkel was a weird one too. He was originally a one shot character meant to be Laura's nerdy blind date. But audiences loved him so much that he was brought back as a regular and then became a main cast member. I know it's hard to Imagine Family Matters without him. But he was never intended to be the main focus. He evolved from being extremely nerdy and annoying to a scientific genius cartoon character who turned the show into a sci fi sitcom. But that's why kids tuned in and that's why the show lasted so long.

But my favorite Family Matters character will always be Waldo Geraldo Faldo.

That happened a lot in 90's sitcoms. Like Homer Simpson in Season 1 and 2 of the SImpsons has very little in common with Homer Simpson in season 10. They went full in on the comedic oaf aspect of the character.

 

[Octopus]

There are too many examples. But the latest I have experienced is the evil aligned companions of BG2 that reappear in Baldur's Gate 3, who become literally just servants of their evil deities(even if that contradicts their established endings) with 0 personality and that you battle 30 seconds after meeting then. Meanwhile the good aligned companions of BG2 that reappear in 3 can join your party, have their own quests and a lot of thought and care by the writers. Go figure.

Yeah I forgot about that. Poor Viconia dude, she got done so dirty. Even Jaheria got it a little rough, maybe a little bit of character derailment going on there.

 

[Strategist's iconStrategist]

Yeah I forgot about that. Poor Viconia dude, she got done so dirty. Even Jaheria got it a little rough, maybe a little bit of character derailment going on there.

BG3 is a low key travesty if one is a fan of the Bioware Baldur's Gate games. None of the lore elements of those games were followed up upon successfully, to the point that I don't understand the point of it being a Baldur's Gate game. It's more of the the trend of gaming studios of cashing in on a brand name so they can be lazy and piggy back off another franchise. It is an extremely cynical move, when you consider that there are so many settings in D&D that could've been used for a new game. Why pillage the past unnecessarily?

 

[dropsmegamega]

Yeah I forgot about that. Poor Viconia dude, she got done so dirty. Even Jaheria got it a little rough, maybe a little bit of character derailment going on there.

Jaheira is at least acceptable as Larian did put some effort, but Viconia's treatment was simply offensive. Also redeeming Sarevok was one of my favorite moments of ToB and to see him as some sewer weirdo(also larian completely forgot he lost his bhaalspawn essence when he revived) pissed me off.

I would also say Anders from the Dragon Age games; he first appeared in the expansion for Origins as a snarky but harmless mage who just wanted to be left alone (and even says at one point 'I don't think mages should ever break apart from the chantry/templars'), then reappears in 2 as a completely militant zealot mage terrorist.

btw I am glad I am not the only one who felt like that about Anders in 2. Though that is just one of the millions of problems I have with DA2.

 

[Octopus]

BG3 is a low key travesty if one is a fan of the Bioware Baldur's Gate games. None of the lore elements of those games were followed up upon successfully, to the point that I don't understand the point of it being a Baldur's Gate game.

Yeah I entirely remove it from any connections to the series in my head when I play it, there's just no point in trying to think of it as an actual continuation of anything. I still like the game, I just don't think of it as a Baldur's Gate game even if it does have an awkward looking Minsc in it.

btw I am glad I am not the only one who felt like that about Anders in 2. Though that is just one of the millions of problems I have with DA2.

DA2 Anders is probably my least liked Dragon Age companion, and he shared a game with Sebastian so that's saying a lot. DA2 is my gaming guilty pleasure for sure, I love it and I hate it at the same time. I could probably write an entire article about that game, and maybe I even will.

Dragon Age is easily the most inconsistent and retcon-happy game series, and there's easily way more derailed characters I can't think of right now.

 

[Strategist's iconStrategist]

Yeah I entirely remove it from any connections to the series in my head when I play it, there's just no point in trying to think of it as an actual continuation of anything. I still like the game, I just don't think of it as a Baldur's Gate game even if it does have an awkward looking Minsc in it.

I mean, they had Minsc, a barbarian Berserker Ranger known for his inhuman strength, with a 12 str statline. They didn't even bother to do the minimum level of effort.

 

[Octopus]

I mean, they had Minsc, a barbarian Berserker Ranger known for his inhuman strength, with a 12 str statline. They didn't even bother to do the minimum level of effort.

Right, I forgot about his abysmal strength. To play a bit of devil's advocate, it could be the difference in how stats are generated in BG3 with the 27 point buy as opposed to the OG rolling method, and he has high wisdom instead if I recall in BG3 since more ranger things are tied to wisdom in 5th edition. Still pretty bad though, I guess that time he spent petrified did a number on his muscles.

 

[moonbits]

The Brotherhood of Steel in Bethesdas Fallout.

 

[RageBurner]

The most egregious example I can think of has already been mentioned: Aya in 3rd Birthday. It's so unapologetically bad that I personally refuse to play or acknowledge the game's very existence, and the whole thing is a complete disaster, top to bottom.

Another that comes to mind is Samus on The Other M. It's such a wild deconstruction that it comes off to me as a bad fanfic of some sort, and the only redeeming quality of that game in my eye is the quality of Samus' model.

 

[RetroLaw]

Goku in Super ?

Oh and I agree with Other M Samus, even though I loved the game.

 

[Yousef]

I know these are literally the poster childs for character flandarization but most of the SpongeBob cast became pretty unlikable later on.
Sort of like later Simpson.

 

[Another Iori]

Goku in Super ?

Oh and I agree with Other M Samus, even though I loved the game.

Son Goku in 'Super' has been one of the biggest betrayals to endure, but what hurts the most is that the people who were children ten years ago, are now young men and women and for them 'Dragon Ball' and Goku are only and exclusively what they've seen in 'Super'. 'Z' doesn't exist for them and nor the King Piccolo saga...

 

[Yousef]

That’s literally not true. Tons of people who were kids when super come out still know what Z is. I think you’re fabricating facts to fit your own deluded narrative.

 

[Another Iori]

That’s literally not true. Tons of people who were kids when super come out still know what Z is. I think you’re fabricating facts to fit your own deluded narrative.

So, why has 'Daima' which is a direct sequel to the Bu saga, divided the audience? Some people are publicly saying 'We don't care about anything, just give us Super 2!' Moreover, this same faction is asking for the Moro saga to be animated, even though it’s just a badly made 'Frankenstein' of the old sagas published from before 'Super'.

 

[Nidoking's iconNidoking]

 

[Dyne]

The most egregious example I can think of has already been mentioned: Aya in 3rd Birthday. It's so unapologetically bad that I personally refuse to play or acknowledge the game's very existence, and the whole thing is a complete disaster, top to bottom.

Another that comes to mind is Samus on The Other M. It's such a wild deconstruction that it comes off to me as a bad fanfic of some sort, and the only redeeming quality of that game in my eye is the quality of Samus' model.

YES. Samus in Other M is (to me) the absolute worst example of this ever!
Or is it the best example? Worst case? You know what i mean! F that game!!

 

[trickybus]

The most well-known examples I can think of come from comic books, which is weird because I don't read them much. But I do like to listen to other people talk about comics.

Nightwing — this dude seems to attract the worst writers. He started off an upstanding boy scout, slowly morphed into an air-headed man-whore, then became a lightening rod for uncomfortable sexual situations (e.g. yaoi-baiting, child grooming, sexual assault, cuckoldry)

Flash (Wally West) — this version of the Flash is well-liked for good reason, yet I recall an arc that had this guy go on a trauma-induced rampage where he murdered a bunch of innocents. Because that's totally in character for him

Batman (actually, the entire goddamn Bat Clan) — His reason for sparing the lives of criminals has largely shifted from 'he values human life too much' to 'once he pops, he can't stop'. A lot of fans dislike this change because it makes Bruce out to be more psychotic than originally intended (hot take here: I don't mind this change because I feel the original reason is stupid and logically inconsistent). Other characters like Jason Todd and Tim Drake have also had moments where they act completely OOC and its just accepted now because it happens so often

 

[Dyne]

Nightwing — this dude seems to attract the worst writers. He started off an upstanding boy scout, slowly morphed into an air-headed man-whore, then became a lightening rod for uncomfortable sexual situations (e.g. yaoi-baiting, child grooming, sexual assault, cuckoldry)

I had no idea about this, yikes! ?