As a counter-example of this phenomenon I think the character of Joe MacMillan from Halt and Catch Fire moved away from being a sociopathic manipulator with inf

As a counter-example of this phenomenon I think the character of Joe MacMillan from Halt and Catch Fire moved away from being a sociopathic manipulator with infinite charisma in the first two seasons and ended up as someone with sincere/honest intentions and genuine empathy for others without needing to exploit them for his goals. I was a little disappointed to see them tone down this aspect of his character, which made for some compelling scenarios in the first two seasons. Nonetheless I’m happy that they gave him a more nuanced arc, even if it did make for less captivating TV. Granted, the show is not a sitcom, so perhaps it’s not a great example.