Summary

TV shows often endeavor to deliver their antagonists rather than defeating them instantaneously , but some villain are so evil that their redemption arc comes as a huge surprise . The potential upside of a redemption arc is obvious . It allows a show to practice interesting characters differently without draw their story on for too long . It also means that the show can introduce a new villain to take their place , and this changes the whole dynamic .

However , abad TV redemption arcwill arrive across as insincere or even idiotic . The truth is that some characters are beyond redemption , and their past deeds should n’t be forgive so quickly . Some truly evil characters can gradually garner redemption , but even then it ’s surprising to see how far they move around from iniquity toward working alongside the protagonists . A surprise redemption arc can make or break a scoundrel ’s story .

There are several major characters on beloved TV shows who have redeemed themselves and who have interesting arc .

A composite image of Donald Glover as Troy Barnes smiling toward the camera and an image of the cast of Community posing together

11Michael

Played by Ted Danson in The Good Place

Cast

The Good Place ’s time of year 1 twistwas perfectly executed . It expose that Michael was the villain all along , trapping Eleanor and her supporter in a never - ending loop of ego - inflicted social torture . Although it ’s still one of the show ’s most memorable moments , The Good Placechanged course soon after . Rather than being the omnipotent scoundrel that Eleanor must overcome , Michael is eventually redeemed , and he becomes a sure friend .

Despite being a Bad Place fiend who concocts novel ways to excruciate human soul , Michael is n’t the most evil character inThe Good Place . One way that the show ransom him is by bit by bit unveiling the unfeigned depths of evil in the Bad Place hierarchy , with Trevor and Shawn showing that Michael was secretly a approving in camouflage for Eleanor . Michael ’s redemption reflects one of the show ’s most significant themes : that everyone is capable and worthy of change .

10A-Train

Played by Jessie T. Usher in The Boys

A - Train ’s repurchase has just get down , but there are clear sign that he ’s displace in the ripe direction . His waning powers have wipe forth most of his super - powered smugness .

A - Train realise his first appearance inThe Boysin the most scandalous means potential . As Hughie ’s girlfriend , Robin , takes a footstep out into the street , A - Train runs directly through her , and she is immediately blot out into a mist of blood . This chance event , brought on by A - Train ’s abuse of Compound - V , does n’t reveal as much about his character reference as his response does . Vought force him to apologize to Hughie , and he does so with the petulance of a fry being made to rationalize for pushing someone in the playground .

A - Train ’s redemption has just begun , but there are vindicated signs that he ’s moving in the correct direction . His decline power have wiped away most of his super - powered smugness . He offer Hughie a more literal excuse at Herogasm , and he ’s also essay to hold corrupt Supes accountable , despite the caustic remark of his own elusive past . The Boysseason 4could push A - geartrain further toward redemption .

Smallville custom image with Lana Lang as a witch, Clark Kent looking wistful, and Jimmy Olsen dresses in classic comic book fashion

9Ice King

Played by Tom Kenny in Adventure Time

Ice King does n’t really switch much throughoutAdventure Time , but there are two key factors which allow audiences to see him in a different light . The first is thatAdventure Timegets much dark and more perverted . Villains like the Lich and GOLB make Ice King ’s princess - kidnapping schemes seem tame in comparison . He ’s still evil and selfish , but at least he is n’t trying to destroy the universe .

The other constituent contributing to Ice King ’s redemption is the firm reveal of his backstory . Adventure Time ’s lore episodesshow over time how the planet fell into pandemonium and warfare . It also shows how a humble scientist known as Simon Petrikov was sully by maddening tycoon , when he only resorted to the crown to protect himself and young Marcie from mutants . This makes Ice King a much more tragical frame . He ’s a lonely man immobilize inside a prison of his own qualification .

Throughout the serial , Adventure Time has featured villains with varying degrees of great power , but which scoundrel is the best , strongest of them all ?

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8Sylar

Played by Zachary Quinto in Heroes

Sylar only manages to change when he is imprisoned within his own judgement for what feel like three age , and he manages to settle with Peter in the process .

Sylar is a super - powered serial killer . He tracks down other superhumans so that he can steal their power and make himself substantial . Throughout the first season ofHeroes , he seems like the chief opponent who has to be killed to work about peace , but his false death in the season finale solidification in motion an unusual repurchase electric arc . Despite occasionally professing that he wants to be a zep , Sylar often relapse into his old habits .

Sylar put up memory departure , and he is horrified when confront with his past actions . This starts his redemption spark in businesslike , but he has a foresighted way to go before he can be absolve of his many murders . Sylar only manages to change when he is immure within his own mind for what finger like three years , and he do to reconcile with Peter in the process . Although it may feel like three yr for him , Sylar ’s transformation still feels abrupt .

Jessie T. Usher as A-Train in The Boys, covered in blood

A raw Heroes sequel titled Heroes : Eclipsed has late been confirmed to be in the whole kit and caboodle and it is set up to be helm by longtime producer Tim Kring .

7Sue Sylvester

Played by Jane Lynch in Glee

Sue is use up by her hatred for William McKinley High School ’s glee club , and she tries to sabotage them at every possible chance . She infiltrates the club with her " Cheerios " and leaks their set list to a rival school , but her plans usually miscarry . Although Sue remains a constant menace throughoutGlee , there are some moments which show a softer side to her , and she ’s responsible for some ofGlee ’s most emotional moment .

Behind Sue ’s burred window dressing , she grows to value the members of the glee club . She ’s also capable of uttermost routine of generousness at time . There are signs early on on that Sue is n’t as evil as she pretends to be . She endorse Becky , a student with Down Syndrome , in joining the sunniness squad , and she donates her money from her surprisal collaboration with Olivia Newton - John to her babe ’s concern domicile . Sue redeems herself by supporting Brittany and Santana ’s marriage ceremony , even when some of their own home members do n’t .

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Glee first premiered in 2009 and featured hundreds of song performances over its six season , but there are 10 that shine brighter than the rest .

5Chang

Played by Ken Jeong in Community

Despite his Napoleon complex and his attempts to gaslight the study group into thinking Greendale is no more than a shared delusion , Chang is somehow redeem .

Señor Chang is about as evil as a Spanish prof at a community of interests college can be . He ’s a total wildcard inCommunity , faking his own death to glorify his own ego and scurrying around in the school ’s air vents . The rascal gas exarcebates his most ego - centered tendency , and he soon works his path into the part of an authoritarian potentate on campus , using an US Army of children to tighten his traction on the school .

Despite his Napoleon complex and his attempt to gaslight the study radical into imagine Greendale is no more than a shared delusion , Chang is somehow deliver . He returns to campus after his exile claiming to have " Changnesia , " but this is just a artifice to tuck himself into the study mathematical group . The truth add up out , but he still hang around for the rest of the show ’s running , plausibly because Ken Jeong brought a frenzied energy thatCommunitycouldn’t do without . His strange redemption is part ofCommunity ’s " gas outflow " time of year , so it can be easily forgiven .

Redeemed TV Series Characters

residential district is finally getting to satisfy its " 6 seasons and a picture " promise . Here ’s everything we know about its release and cast .

4Joel Maisel

Played by Michael Zegen in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

It would be harsh to call Joel Maisel sincerely evil , but he gets a lot of quagmire for a valet who shaft on his wife and break up their folk . His infidelity is the inciting incident that compels Midge to forge a good life-time for herself as a comic . Her early successes make it easy to forget about Joel , but their families are forever linked by their minor , and she ’s force to see a lot more of him than she might otherwise need to .

For all Joel ’s faults , he gradually render to ameliorate himself . He abandon his narcicisstic dream of being a renowned comic and move into business with Archie as a club owner . Throughout time of year 5 , he and Midge rekindle some of their spark , without ever get back together completely . His ultimate redemption descend inThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel ’s serial finale , as he sacrifices himself to the mob to protect Midge . They leave their past behind them , and Midge regularly visits him in prison .

3Lionel Luthor

Played by John Glover in Smallville

Lionel Luthor first reach his immense hazard by killing his own parents for the heritage and life insurance money , but this is just the commencement of his evil deeds .

Lionel Luthor first achieve his immense fortune by killing his own parents for the inheritance and life insurance money , but this is just the beginning of his vicious deed . When his boy Lex finds out about this , he drug him and subject him to electroshock therapy in an attempt to pass over his memory . Lex gets off thinly compare to some of Lionel ’s other targets , as he leaves a track of murder behind him in his business relations and his personal sprightliness .

Lionel has such incalculable riches that he believes nobody can pertain him , and this gives him the confidence to pretend upon his malefic desires . However , he finally sees the error in his way as Lex set out to take on some of his terrible trait . Lionel finally becomes a close ally to Clark Kent . He essay his best to undo the action of his past times and salvage his boy ’s soul . It ’s left up to the audience ’s interpretation whether his redemption outweigh his life of bad works .

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Smallville had some incredible stories throughout its ten seasons ; however , the Superman prequel series also had quite a few bizarre plot line .

2Lil' Gideon

Played by Thurop Van Orman in Gravity Falls

The hoi polloi of Gravity Falls become obsessed with Lil ' Gideon Gleeful , the lovely untried psyche - reader who draw crowd to the Tent of Telepathy to either see his unbelievable powers or watch him do a cunning short terpsichore . However , this facade conceals his lawful nature as a power - hungry despot with a mystic amulet that yield him the power to move object with his mind .

Gideon is at the nerve of many ofGravity Falls ' dreary installment , and he can be partly blamed for bringing about Weirdmageddon . Gideon is the first person to make a deal with Bill Cypher , and he afterward agrees to wait on him in commutation for his exemption . Despite almost give way the world , Gideon redeems himself at the last possible minute of arc . He join the masses of Gravity Falls in banishing Bill , and he betray his malign way once and for all .

The hit Disney Channel series Gravity Falls ended after only two season — while at its height of decisive and commercial-grade achiever . Was it cancelled ?

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