I think that, when an author feels the need to change the basic assumptions of a story, there are several things they need to make sure of beforehand. First, it has to seem natural, or even inevitable in retrospect; never should it seem forced or confusing or unnecessarily abrupt. Second, it ought to be something that can make your audience cheer -- and changing the genre of a story, killing a beloved main character, or making a story dramatic instead of funny do not do that.
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