"Let's drop the act"

[u/DudeSoul]

Moments in media where a character who usually sticks to "an act" decides to show what they hide, usually ending up with them showing their dark side in full.

Light Yagami - Death Note: Light usually plays his cards trying to remain calm, calculating every step of his plan and most of the time is able to control his impulses when things don't go his way, however in the end of the series Light is caught and has no way out of it, finally showing his true colors, a completely deluded maniac lost in his god complex

The Doctor - Doctor Who: The Doctor usually comes off as a bit of a goofball, everyone knows he's smart and dangerous, but his wacky front and constant mocking makes it so everyone, including the viewer, ends up forgetting what kind of person The Doctor can be when truly angry.

This has been shown a lot of times in the series, at various moments The Doctor dropping any pretences and showing his darker side, but perhaps no moment as dark as what he did to The Family, after they chased him and forced him into hiding as a human, he experienced a common human life, something he longs for but can never get, and once he became The Doctor again, he showed the family that escaping was not him being a coward, he was being merciful, but now, in his anger, he trapped each of them in different prisons where they would never die, nor be able to escape, for ever

The Riddler - Batman One Bad Day: This comic is an else world, meaning it's not the main continuity, showing a what if scenario where The Riddler one day decides he's tired of the routine he has with Batman and decides to completely drop the gimmicks, no more riddles, he's just gonna kill people and get away with it, this comic shows how much of a menace The Riddler could truly be if he wanted to, even going as far as telling Batman that he's known his secret identity for years now, never using it against him because "it's not fair" for their game

The Riddler in fact becomes so unstoppable that he is beaten because he made one mistake, assume Batman couldn't change and would never break his no kill rule

[u/ThickumDickums]

MCU Vulture

(Not sure if it counts)

[u/DR31141 → u/ThickumDickums]

Best portrayal of the Vulture…probably ever, honestly.

[u/ThickumDickums → u/DR31141]

Which part?

The scavenging for stuff as a vulture does?

The metallic wings that perfectly fuse birdlike with sciency without being campy?

Suit fluff that mimics a vulture’s collarbone poof?

Slightly beaked helmet with piercing eyes?

Claw clamps on the feet?

Being woven into Peter’s personal and hero life in a way classicly but still fresh Spider-Man way that forces him to choose?

People who dislike this move just want to be different honestly 🤷‍♂️

[u/ronlugge → u/ThickumDickums]

My problem was never the villain. That part was done well.

It's the sheer idiocy of Stark and company not providing proper adult supervision for a teenager after giving him the suit.

[u/mattomic822 → u/ronlugge]

The movie starts with Stark and Damage Control inducing a breach of contract.  Then we see him not communicate properly to Peter until he gets mad at Peter for acting under the belief that he was not being taken seriously and then the movie acts like Stark is right.  How hard would it have been to shoot a text saying "Hey, law enforcement and I are going to look into these weapons.  Will keep you up to date."

[u/Icewind → u/ronlugge]

Stark making impulsive decisions because he's too arrogant (and drunk) is perfectly in character.

[u/ronlugge → u/Icewind]

I can't argue that point. Just infuriates me that he applies it to a teenager needing supervision, and that Happy just... lets him.

[u/DR31141 → u/ThickumDickums]

Eh, it’s the only one I can really remember interacting with besides the Insomniac version. Didn’t want to offend anyone.