Character assassination

Character assassination refers to changes in characterization or portrayal of a character over the course of a work that are viewed by critics / the audience as inconsistent with an original positive characterization or the realistic arc of development of that character. (The term comes from a real-life concept in which someone spreads rumors or tells stories intended to or with the effect of destroying another's reputation; it's akin to the notion of defamation. However, it has a different cast when considering deliberate characterization and changes to character arcs in a creative work.)

It is particularly a problem with serial works which are created over a long period of time and released during creation. Because the work is created more loosely, it lacks cohesion and this is revealed in characterization as well. The creators may not in fact have the full plot arcs or character arcs sketched out, or may change those characterizations midway for some reason.

Changes in characterization may be done for a number of reasons:

• Different visions of character development: The actor, writer, creator, or directors may wish to move the character in a new direction from the direction a critic/ audience member wishes it to go. In this case, the complaint of "character assassination" may simply refer to a disjunct between audience expectations and desires (including fannish romantic fantasies) and long-term authorial visions.

• Changes in vision: Because serial works that are produced over a long time may have different creators, the creators' vision of characterization, character arcs, and plot arcs can change. Original creators can themselves change and evolve in their views and interests; for instance, an actor, author, or director may have a conversion experience into a religious faith, become politicized about a particular issue, or have another life-changing event that changes her view on the original characterization, or plans for character and plot arcs. Also, original creators can leave and be replaced by new creators with different visions or takes.

• Return to the original vision: Creators may realize that the work has moved away from their original vision, as they responded to fellow creators (such as actors) input) or to audience response. They may then try to sharply return the character to their original intended characterization. Such a move may trigger calls of "character assassination" because it disrupts the character's arc.

• Inept characterization: Perceptions of character assassination may simply be because of inept initial characterization on the part of the creators. For instance, the creators intended all along to make character X gay, but didn't know how to do characterize a gay character or gradual coming out, so missed the subtle cues that would have created a realistically gay character. Now, when the denouement appears and the character is revealed to be gay or comes out of the closet, it is perceived as "sudden", "out-of-character", etc.; charges of "character assassination" may be levied out of homophobia and/or out of displeasure at a failed characterization.

• Sacrificed for another element of the work: Servicing plots, themes, character development of other characters, etc. - Creators may have a significant plot or theme they want to add or build into the work, and the original characterization or plan for the character's particular arc is sacrificed to support the plot, theme, or other character. (This isn't just applicable to character assassination; character death can accomplish the same thing; see, e.g., Tara's 6th season death in Buffy the Vampire Slayer used to trigger Willow's slide into apocalyptic evil.)

• Servicing real-life exigencies: If a vital creator (such as the character-defining actor in a TV series) has to leave the show, take a break, get pregnant, contract disputes, etc., then character changes (including character assassination) may be the result.

Examples of character assassination:

• Starbuck's transformation on Battlestar Galactica was described as character assassination.FSFblog 2007 March post by Therem & comment thread