Further discussion over on G+ ( https://plus.google.com/106994143524191600748/posts/WeXnYREE514 )

Discussing unsympathetic characters who transform to sympathetic characters (or just how to make unsympathetic characters watchable) over on Twitter. Here’s what I started with…

“Really interested in how you work a character intentionally from unsympathetic to sympathetic without alienating the audience. A challenge. The idea of antihero into hero. Not all characters need that transformation, but it’s an interesting puzzle. Super interested in someone rotten trying, failing, learning to do good. Maybe they do it for love, or b/c they see themselves reflected back.

“A character performing inexcusable actions - audience isn’t supposed to sympathize. Then a turn: how to execute that?”

here’s the discussion (translated from Twitterese to something more readable):

@oceanbluesky says:
Converts can be powerful characters; can also still be outcasts, doubted & resented: “Did their heart really change or is it camouflage?” and others may think “S/he should still be punished!”…while the worldliness of a past may add charisma fueling more resentment… and their past doesn’t have to be mean spirited at all; it can be confused, iconoclastic, skeptical of societal norms + adventure
Shakespeare’s Henry the Fifth is the best example I know of this type of “reformed” character (Henry IV Parts 1&2)

@maripaiz says:
Despicable Me did that wonderfully. <3 Gru in the end! I feel Cameron Diaz’ character on Bad Teacher tried to do that but failed - her motives weren’t relatable (she’s fortune hunting & wants a boob job 2 get a rich guy w/ no personality) and another issue is that you get no background story to her life; she’s just mean & selfish for no reason… you can’t sympathize!

@questionmarkman says:
Does the character really need to become sympathetic? I’m against making characters sympathetic when they don’t need to be.

@crocutax2 hits it on the head, talking about how seeing the reasoning behind these bad decisions help make the character relatable.

Ultimately it seems like you have to do your homework - make a case for why the character behaves this way, bring the audience in on their motivation. It’s the old saying - “everyone’s the hero of their own story” - the great thing is that if you can get the audience on board with an unsympathetic character through understanding, you’ve won. You’ve already got them wanting the character to change their ways and do good.

My favorite example is Fish Tank - it takes the main character the whole film to make a right decision, but you feel why she makes all the wrong ones along the way. You’re rooting for her to get her shit together.