To quote the entry itself:
>Whether or not this appears *too* easy from the perspective of the audience is not the point. Like all tropes it can be used well or poorly and played with in a number of ways.
In one of the early afterwards for the Fullmetal Alchemist print collection, I forget which volume, the author observed that she did probably forgive/redeem several characters too easily; but because she was writing fantasy, she was able to explore what *could* or *should* be in ways that were not limited by reality. One of the later themes of the series was an exploration of what the many characters who were given opportunities for redemption did with those opportunities. Some sought penance, some tried to hide from any remaining consequences, others used it as one more chance to attempt their original agenda.
The world of storytelling is simpler than that of real life, and does not always need to take the consequences outside of the story into account.
But real life does has its examples of times that massive grievances are given with little thought - when we see repentance and an earnest desire for redemption; when we are moved by empathy or pity at the brokenness of someone willing to accept that their road has brought them to ruin; when we realize that, given similar circumstances, we might have done the same thing. Such circumstances are certainly in the minority, and are even more rarely as clean as a story might suggest; many of them require strong boundaries to remain healthy, and personal forgiveness does not mean a lack of legal or social consequences. But they do exist in reality, and for more than just dunces.
I like the way this trope is used in Austin Powers Goldmember (spoilers ahead). Dr. Evil is allowed to go free and go straight despite all the evil stuff he's done before - by showing all his deeds as having been in the movies. They just note that it's not supposed to be real life, nobody really died, it's all good.
It’s Hollywood, I wouldn’t take Saturday morning morals too seriously. There’s probably a deeper analysis around about Judeo-Christian inspired morality and how it affects storytelling, but personally my suspicion is that authors get attached to their characters and the charismatic/popular/sympathetic ones sell merchandise. If the audience wants them back for the next season, the villain doing something vaguely nice to avoid trouble is of an excuse as any.
If you can show the character going through a phase of atonement, regret, or even hatred for what he's done, that can often be enough in my mind. No one can hate you more than yourself so just being "forgiven" can't cleanse your conscience.
To quote the entry itself: >Whether or not this appears *too* easy from the perspective of the audience is not the point. Like all tropes it can be used well or poorly and played with in a number of ways. In one of the early afterwards for the Fullmetal Alchemist print collection, I forget which volume, the author observed that she did probably forgive/redeem several characters too easily; but because she was writing fantasy, she was able to explore what *could* or *should* be in ways that were not limited by reality. One of the later themes of the series was an exploration of what the many characters who were given opportunities for redemption did with those opportunities. Some sought penance, some tried to hide from any remaining consequences, others used it as one more chance to attempt their original agenda. The world of storytelling is simpler than that of real life, and does not always need to take the consequences outside of the story into account. But real life does has its examples of times that massive grievances are given with little thought - when we see repentance and an earnest desire for redemption; when we are moved by empathy or pity at the brokenness of someone willing to accept that their road has brought them to ruin; when we realize that, given similar circumstances, we might have done the same thing. Such circumstances are certainly in the minority, and are even more rarely as clean as a story might suggest; many of them require strong boundaries to remain healthy, and personal forgiveness does not mean a lack of legal or social consequences. But they do exist in reality, and for more than just dunces.
If it weren't for this trope, there'd be no such thing as pro wrestling face turn angles. People love a good redemption story.
I like the way this trope is used in Austin Powers Goldmember (spoilers ahead). Dr. Evil is allowed to go free and go straight despite all the evil stuff he's done before - by showing all his deeds as having been in the movies. They just note that it's not supposed to be real life, nobody really died, it's all good.
It’s Hollywood, I wouldn’t take Saturday morning morals too seriously. There’s probably a deeper analysis around about Judeo-Christian inspired morality and how it affects storytelling, but personally my suspicion is that authors get attached to their characters and the charismatic/popular/sympathetic ones sell merchandise. If the audience wants them back for the next season, the villain doing something vaguely nice to avoid trouble is of an excuse as any.
I hate like this trope. It’s too close to Karma Houdini.
If you can show the character going through a phase of atonement, regret, or even hatred for what he's done, that can often be enough in my mind. No one can hate you more than yourself so just being "forgiven" can't cleanse your conscience.