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descent into crime theme

also known as: descent into evil

The way that someone can, step by step and without particular premeditation, get drawn into evermore serious crime is featured.

Examples

In voy3x13 "Fair Trade" Neelix did a favor for a friend who turned out to be involved in drug smuggling. After covering up some minor transgressions Neelix eventually found himself an accomplice to serious crime. In voy5x26 "Equinox (1)" it is told that the Equinox crew accidentally killed an alien and discovered that its body made excellent fuel. Driven by exceptional need they procured another alien which they murdered for fuel, then another and so on.

15 total · 3 choice · 10 major · 2 minor

StoryLevelMotivation
blackmirror4x03 choice A hit-and-run death cover up lead to a murder in a fit of desperation which then lead to ever more cold blooded murders.
tz1959e5x28 choice Down on his luck, Jonathan stole some money, then he stole some more money, and then he was caught.
voy3x13 choice Neelix did a favor for a friend and then found himself covering up drug-trade, murder and contemplating theft.
ahp5x20 major As a child, Iggy had a noted interest in turning a dime. We understand that receiving a whooping $10 from Mr. Rose may have been the turning point that set Iggy on the path of crime, where many years later he was shot dead.
as1985e2x16 major The family dog was stolen by the burglars. It later joined the burglars on a crime spree.
blackmirror3x01 major Lacie started committing evermore antisocial transgressions until finally she ended up in jail with her eye implants removed.
movie: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920 I) major Henry Jekyll descents into a life of depravity, frequenting opium dens, dance halls, bars, and any place that satisfies his evil desires.
movie: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920 II) major Henry Jekyll descents into a life of depravity, frequenting opium dens, dance halls, bars, and any place that satisfies his evil desires.
movie: The Godfather Part II (1974) major A central theme is how Michael become ever more brutal and callous as the story progressed. It ends with a moral nadir when Michael committed fratricide.
movie: The Godfather Part III (1990) major Michael was on the verge of turning his criminal enterprise legitimate and putting a stop to his mafia career. Michael, however, never quite managed to fully disentangle himself from his criminal past. In a telling exchange with Vincent, Michael spoke the line, "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.". The situation deteriorated to the point that Michael found himself complicit in the organization of another crime spree that including the murder of a Cardinal in the Vatican.