This is discussion archived from a time before the current discussion method was installed.
The Wanderer: This one didn't have a google cache, but I did my best to restore it to the original brilliant write up by Redthorn, (and also restored her profile as thanks for the great write up in the first place), and some of the examples provided. In some cases I skipped a little of our back and forth stuff, and in others I either didn't remember enough or didn't know enough about the source material to feel comfortable writing about it, so anyone who has been left out can feel free to restore examples or add new ones on.
TMOH: I want to add the evil sorceress/usurping aunt from Freddie The Frog, but it's been so long since I saw the movie that I can't recall which category she fits into. Help, please?
The Wanderer: I took out the following bit because I reread the scene in question recently and the second troper is correct, it's not an example. I decided to save it though in case we need it.
- A rare case of it working for a Big Bad: in the book version of Stardust, a witch and The Evil Prince are at odds after she kills the prince's brother. (Not because of love, it's more a case of Only I Can Kill Him and family honor.) He tracks her caravan, then sets it on fire in the dead of the night, planning to either let the flames kill her or ambush her from her blindside when she comes running out. Unfortunately for him, she turns into an ordinary sized snake, slips out of the caravan, sneaks up and bites him, giving him a horrifically painful death.
- Actually, the poisonous snake is in fact her bracelet, if you read the scene carefully - the one she took with her in her first scene.
fleb: Ugh... I am humiliated yet perversely compelled to share that I can remember the YKTTW for this, and I still didn't catch the dual meaning of the trope name until 9:30am EST this morning.
Mike: I'm not sure if it fits, which is why I'm putting it here, but...does anyone remember that anti-drug PSA? The one where the drug dealer turns into some kind of hideous snake-thing?
Danel: Was this page always about snakes and dragons? Because I can't help but think that that's quite a different thing - a giant snake is a famous and obvious Evil Overlord List example, while a dragon is awesome (and quite often tends to have a good chance at success).
I can't help but think there's also a major difference between turning into a giant snake - which is just lame and obvious - and turning into a normal-sized/small snake, which is sneaky and subtle and usually involves killing with poison.
Jaabi: The World Ends With You's example occurs twice - both in where it does, and doesn't work. This should be fixed in all possibility. (This troper didn't find the two battles that hard, some random battles were harder than the final boss.)
SilverMaduin: I strongly disagree with Maleficent's Kingdom Hearts incarnation being one that "didn't work". This is what this troper wanted to edit in before he decided to put it up in here instead:
- Also, said "preteen" (who, as far s this troper remembers is 14 in the original Kingdom Hearts) had to mow through hordes of Mooks, defeat a heap of bosses, including some of Disney's more notable villains and then beat his childhood friend, who plotwise was the best on Destiny Islands in terms of fighting skill, after said friend was strenghtened by the power of darkness. After all that Sora got to fight Maleficent. And it was not easy.
