This is discussion archived from a time before the current discussion method was installed.
Seth:... so many situations where this has happened spring to mind but i cant think of any of them. Most frustrating entry ever.
OffSide7: The Song of Ice and Fire one might need a little more time before one can be sure that it counts... One theory as to the significance of Dany is that her dragons will be crucial in the fight against the icy wights from the North. So while it is taking a bit long to integrate her story with the rest of the books, I doubt it will ultimately be shown to be irrelevant.
((JWHIII)): I don't think Daenarys qualifies for three reasons. First, Song of Ice and Fire has a strong generational theme running through it. How does each generation act when it comes to maturity? What feuds to children inherit from their parents? Do they continue those feuds or rise above them? Dany is part of that new generation. Second, we can also see the story as a contest between puppetmasters, including Tywin, Tyrion, Littlefinger, Varys, etc., etc. As the last scion of the Targaryens, Dany makes quite a useful tool for these puppetmasters. And previews for A Dance with Dragons show they are beginning to turn their attention to her. Finally, there's the element of structure. It is clear that Dany will play some role in the war for the throne. What role is that? We don't know. But Martin has two choices structurally. She can suddenly show up in book 6 with three dragons, a horde of Dothraki, and a couple cajillion Unsullied and Martin can try to compress in her backstory ... or we can see her evolve slowly over time. She's kind of a Chekhov's Gun in that way. Also, she is a thematically useful counterpoint to Robb and Joffrey. When he rose to power, Robb Stark only cared about vengeance for his father's murder. Joffrey was a self-centered, violent sociopath. Dany, by contrast, genuinely cares about the people she rules.
((reinoe)): I removed the JLU entry "The Greatest Story Never Told". This trope is about completely irrelevant things that ultimately don't matter. The entry I've deleted is very relevant because it involved saving the world.
((aardvark): In response to the cut listing: Filler is a single episode or installment that does nothing to further the plot. It does not refer to a single scene or plot in an episode. Padding is something added simply to lengthen the work, and could be removed with no impact on the story. A Wacky Wayside Tribe is something that makes the main story take longer. Trapped by Mountain Lions refers to a side story that is not there to make the work longer, but simply seems insignificant in comparison to the more serious events of the main plot. While removing it may not affect the main plot, it would effect the work as a whole (whether positively or negatively varies.) Unlike a Wayside Tribe, Mountain Lions happen paralel to the main plot, and do not affect the ability of the protagonists to resolve it.
Anonymous Mc Cartneyfan: Agreed that this is a valid trope. For how it differs from those other two — let's think of the Trope Namer example. Kimberly trapped by mountain lions isn't filler because the creators treated it as genuinely important. Hey, this is the beloved daughter of the protagonist! (Beloved by the protagonist, anyhow, and do we want to argue with Jack Bauer?) But her being trapped by mountain lions didn't have to derail the main plot — Jack Bauer was still free to save the world. (Besides, what kind of tribe do mountain lions make, anyhow?)
thatother1dude: So the difference is that Trapped by Mountain Lions is happening at the same time and treated as important? Well, then I'm removing examples that don't fit that description.
