Why are sequels typically darker than the original?

[whispering_surrender]

I never write recurring characters enough to grow sick of them. Hence, I have nothing pertinent of my own to add.

Stealing from a movie I can do though. I'm guessing this must be a fairly prominent phenomenon based on the reactions to Stephen King's book Misery and the subsequent movie. The plot revolved around an author who had killed off a character he had grown weary of writing about and one obsessed fan's efforts to have the story continue.

Whisp