The Shocking Transformation: 10 Beloved TV Heroes Who Became Sinister Villains, Only to Find Redemption

WARNING: This article discusses spoilers for several TV shows.

Summary

TV shows that have managed to captivate audiences and stand out from the rest often employ the intriguing tactic of temporarily transforming beloved characters into villains. This brilliant approach grants these characters the opportunity to undergo tremendous growth and complexity, going beyond their typical roles and challenging the audience's perception. In order to maintain narrative freshness and keep viewers fully engaged, it is essential for long-running shows to embrace character evolution, even by exploring the darker side of their protagonists.

Exploring the consequences of crossing moral boundaries and leaving room for redemption and development in subsequent episodes, turning a beloved character into a villain offers a captivating storyline and creates opportunities for complex character growth. While audiences can easily appreciate both good and bad characters in television, one of the most compelling narrative choices a show can make is to temporarily transform a virtuous character into an antagonist. Creating characters that defy categorization is challenging enough, but crafting a multidimensional character who transcends their predefined role allows for unprecedented character development. This narrative technique has been successfully employed in some of television's greatest series.

Characters in long-running shows must evolve beyond their initial expectations. This evolution may involve gaining superpowers or even facing death. It is important for characters to undergo changes as no individual remains constant. One prevalent approach is to portray characters turning evil, enabling the audience to witness their moral boundaries being challenged while still retaining their essence.

10 Kara Danvers (Supergirl)

Supergirl aired on the CW for the past five seasons after initially premiering on CBS. Although the overall tone of this season was peculiar, there was one standout episode. Affected by red kryptonite, the typically sweet Kara Danvers transformed into an evil version of herself. Unfortunately, this meant that Supergirl possessed the same malevolent tendencies and wreaked havoc in National City. Her sister had to step in and stop her. Although this storyline only lasted for one episode, it had a powerful impact and provided Kara with a compelling character arc for redemption in the subsequent episodes.

9 Elena Gilbert (The Vampire Diaries)

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9 Elena Gilbert (The Vampire Diaries)

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The Vampire Diaries aired for 8 seasons, during which, nearly every cast member had a stint as a vampire, leading them to switch off their humanity. Elena followed suit in season 4, succumbing to her grief over her brother's death. Damon, utilizing his sire bond, coerced her into this state, resulting in a captivating transformation of Elena's character. Despite her chaotic behavior, she revealed a depth beyond her reliance on the other vampires in her life. Her eventual redemption became imperative, given the bridges she had burned, yet her time as a villain injected renewed vitality into the show.

8 Michael (The Good Place)

The surprise twist at the conclusion of The Good Place's first season resonated deeply with viewers. Initially presented as a helpful architect overseeing a new realm for departed souls, Michael's true nature as a demon is unveiled, uncovering the sinister purpose behind the entire neighborhood's existence – to inflict torment upon four particular individuals in the afterlife. Throughout the course of the show, he embraces his role as a malevolent being, relentlessly striving to ensure the success of his sadistic experiment. Remarkably, by the end of the series, Michael undergoes a profound transformation, evolving into a benevolent entity and ultimately even attaining humanity.

7 Emma Swan as Dark Swan (Once Upon A Time)

The concept of good versus evil is a recurring theme in Once Upon A Time, and it was only a matter of time before the show explored the idea of someone who embodies pure goodness having a brush with pure evil. In order to protect her loved ones, Emma Swan willingly absorbed the darkness within her, only to find herself unable to separate from its influence. Despite her efforts to resist, the darkness proved overwhelming. It consumed her, causing her to wreak havoc in Storybrooke, abduct heroes to exploit their powers, and corrupt the love of her life. The latter half of this season focuses on Emma's journey towards redemption as she ventures into the depths of hell to save her beloved.

6 Max Evans as The Dictator (Roswell, New Mexico)

Max Evans fell under the control of his malevolent duplicate, referred to as The Dictator, by his extraterrestrial peers during the third season of Roswell, New Mexico. Confined within a cave, Max was eventually released by the show's three central aliens. The wicked Dictator took advantage of Max's body, scheming to lure more aliens to Roswell. Ultimately, the two entities were separated and Max, aided by his siblings and friends, ardently strove to defeat the Dictator permanently. This formidable antagonist skillfully deceived both viewers and other characters until his true identity was revealed.

5 Will Byers (Stranger Things)

Will Byers, a central character in Stranger Things, is no stranger to trauma. In fact, he has had numerous encounters with The Upside Down, a parallel dimension. In the second season, Will falls under the control of a powerful creature called The Mind Flayer. This unfortunate turn of events leads him to unknowingly act as a spy for the monster, resulting in the deaths of several individuals in the town of Hawkins. The consequences of Will's possession further escalate in the subsequent season, leading to an increased number of people being affected by supernatural entities. Will's role as a villain, serving as a vessel for such an immense evil in a small community like Hawkins, adds a compelling dynamic to the storyline. Although the concept of his redemption may not have been essential to the narrative, the show emphasizes that his actions were not his own fault. Nonetheless, Will manages to utilize his connection with the Mind Flayer to assist his friends and the town in season 3.

4 Willow Rosenberg as Dark Willow (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

Buffy The Vampire Slayer has featured multiple instances of characters turning evil, with each one being remarkably successful. An example includes Willow's descent into darkness due to her addiction to magic during the show's sixth season. As Dark Willow, she became one of the most formidable villains, capable of stripping away a person's skin. This transformation allowed for significant character development, both during and after, while also introducing a level of tension among friends that hadn't been seen before in the series. Willow experienced genuine remorse for her actions and actively worked towards repairing the relationships she had harmed.

3 Sam Winchester as Lucifer (Supernatural)

The journey of Supernatural’s first five seasons culminates in Sam's possession, during which he succumbs to evil multiple times, fueled by his noble intentions. However, a central storyline weaves through all the seasons, leading Sam towards his fateful destiny as Lucifer's vessel. Before Sam can regain control of his own body, Lucifer exploits it to eliminate influential figures from Sam's life, nearly triggering the apocalypse. In addition, Lucifer inflicts fatal blows on Castiel and Bobby, while ruthlessly attacking Dean. Eventually, Sam manages to imprison Lucifer in the cage, where he remains for several seasons before resurfacing.

2 Angel as Angelus (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

1 Stiles Stilinski as The Nogitsune (Teen Wolf)

One of the most formidable adversaries in Buffy The Vampire Slayer emerged from one of the show's most captivating love stories. Angel, the cherished individual in Buffy's life, concealed a haunting secret - the moment he experienced true happiness, his soul vanished. Consequently, he transformed into a malevolent creature driven by the sole desire to inflict torment upon Buffy before ultimately destroying her and the entire world. In an attempt to atone for his sins, Angel journeyed to hell, only to return to the mortal realm in season 3 where he endeavored to regain the trust of his companions.

Undoubtedly, the most captivating transformation from a hero to a villain in a television series occurs in Teen Wolf through the character of Stiles Stilinski. In Season 3b, the storyline revolves around a malevolent Kitsune spirit infiltrating the residents of the town. Initially, the group of teenage friends remains clueless about the possessed individual's identity, until Stiles gradually becomes aware that he himself is the unfortunate host. Already grappling with the emotional aftermath of his near-death experience in the previous season, Stiles unwittingly becomes a pawn in the hands of The Nogitsune, who exploits his pain and fear to maintain dominance over Stiles' psyche. To further empower himself, The Nogitsune cunningly orchestrates numerous traps throughout the town to accumulate and harness the suffering of others. The stark contrast between The Nogitsune's physical mannerisms and demeanor, distinct from Stiles' own, creates an overwhelmingly chilling manifestation of this alter ego.