History Main / Denouement

** At the end of ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars}}'', scenes from Radiator Springs' future are run, along with the credits.

* In-universe example from ''TabletopGame/TheDarkEye''. Theatre plays in Maraskan have the tradition to [[ThrowItIn pick up]] every suggestion by the audience. After the [[KillThemAll usually messy]] climax, a narrator has the task to explain all the strange [[PlotDerailment twists of destiny]] and the ways, they show AnAesop. This can take up to a third of the whole play.

* In Creator/JRRTolkien's ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' trilogy, ''The Return of the King'' probably had a higher percentage of dénouement than any other story ever written. After the the climax is over, and the characters journey to their homes, saying goodbyes on the way, a new conflict is introduced. A new conflict. After TheClimax.

Dénouement (pronounced day-noo-mahn) is French for "unknotting", and denotes the point in the story when mysteries are unraveled, fates are determined and explanations made. It is not synonymous with [[TheClimax climax]]: This is the aftermath of the action, not the peak. It is usually the scene ''after'' the climax -- although it can happen in such close proximity to the events of the climax that it may appear to be part of it. An equivalent English expression would be "tying up loose ends".

In television writing, this is usually TheTag, sometimes a DenouementEpisode. A SequelHook may feature. In music, this is AlbumClosure. If the Dénouement is very long, it's EndingFatigue. If it's missing, there's NoEnding.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' ended with [[spoiler:almost the entire cast attending Varrick and Zhu Li's wedding, with [[ShipSinking Korra and Mako]] saying that they're BetterAsFriends, Tenzin noting that the world is going to need rebuilding and [[AndTheAdventureContinues still needs the Avatar]], and Korra and Asami becoming the OfficialCouple.]]

* ''VideoGame/EarthBound'' has a very similar take on the concept of a playable denouement, more likely than not inspired by ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'''s. The player guides [[TheHero Ness]] and [[ImpliedLoveInterest Paula]] back across Eagleland, all the way home. Teleport is still usable, so you can visit just about any location in the game to see how the people you've met along your journey are getting on; [[DevelopersForesight almost every single one has something new to say]] now that the world is saved. Whether you drop Paula off at her home or take her back with Ness to his is up to you, and [[MultipleEndings the semifinal scenes actually change a bit depending on what you do]]. All is well... until TheStinger, [[SequelHook that is]].

* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' has an entire level set after the FinalBattle, where you can talk to your companions and significant Origin characters to learn about their future plans, while the cheering crowd outside waits to see their savior. If the Warden dies, there is a MeaningfulFuneral for him/her instead. Additionally, there is a slide show epilogue detailing the fates of your companions and some [=NPCs=]. ''And'' there is the ''Witch Hunt'' {{DLC}}, which wraps up Morrigan's storyline, which was LeftHanging in the original game. Yeah, ''DA'' likes this trope.

Not to be confused with {{Detournement}}.

* Discussed in ''Film/{{Adaptation}}''. Charlie mispronounces it [[ItIsPronouncedTropay "De-newy-ment."]]

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'', before its FullyAbsorbedFinale for ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' and the PostScriptSeason, originally ended with the founding members announcing the dissolution of the League due to remorse for creating the show's main antagonists, but go back on their word after being convinced that they're still heroes and are still needed. Superman starts discussing ways that they could better public relations, which come into play in the PostScriptSeason, while Batman tells [[MoralityChain Green Arrow]] that he's done a good job of keeping them straight. The final scene implies Clark is about to tell Lois that he's Superman, though it apparently wasn't the case as seen in the PostScriptSeason.

[[folder: Comic Books]]

* ''ComicBook/WhoIsSuperwoman'': In the final issue, after the climatic battle between ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} and Superwoman, Kara explains how she figured Superwoman's real identity out. Then, the epilogue reveals how and why Lucy Lane came to work for Sam Lane and eventually became Superwoman.

[[folder: Fan Works]]

* ''VideoGame/EarthBound'' has a very similar take on the concept of a playable denouement, more likely than not inspired by ''Franchise/DragonQuest'''s. The player guides [[TheHero Ness]] and [[ImpliedLoveInterest Paula]] back across Eagleland, all the way home. Teleport is still usable, so you can visit just about any location in the game to see how the people you've met along your journey are getting on; [[DevelopersForesight almost every single one has something new to say]] now that the world is saved. Whether you drop Paula off at her home or take her back with Ness to his is up to you, and [[MultipleEndings the semifinal scenes actually change a bit depending on what you do]]. All is well... until TheStinger, [[SequelHook that is]].
* Following the example set by ''[=EarthBound=]'', ''{{VideoGame/Undertale}}'''s GoldenEnding ''also'' allows the player a victory lap to check in with all the Underground's inhabitants one last time. Not only do they all have new things to say, ''period'', but [[DevelopersForesight a number of them actually have multiple possible lines of dialogue depending on what the player did or did not do during the story]]. Speaking to certain characters offers additional plot and character details, and there's even a cryptic [[AmbiguousSituation Something-quel]] [[SequelHook Hook]] or two to find, [[LuckBasedMission if you're lucky]]. Interestingly, unlike ''[=EarthBound=]'' and ''Dragon Quest'', ''Undertale'' plops you right at the ''end'' of its game world, meaning revisiting any areas at all is entirely voluntary on the player's part.

* Following the example set by ''[=EarthBound=]'', ''{{VideoGame/Undertale}}'''s GoldenEnding ''also'' allows the player a victory lap to check in with all world's inhabitants one last time. Not only do they all have new things to say, ''period'', but [[DevelopersForesight a number of them actually have multiple possible lines of dialogue depending on what the player did or did not do during the story]]. Speaking to certain characters offers additional plot and character details, and there's even a cryptic SequelHook or two to find, [[LuckBasedMission if you're lucky]]. Interestingly, unlike ''[=EarthBound=]'' and ''Dragon Quest'', ''Undertale'' plops you right at the ''end'' of its game world, meaning revisiting any areas at all is entirely voluntary on the player's part.

* Following the example set by ''[=EarthBound=]'', ''VideoGame/Undertale'''s GoldenEnding ''also'' allows the player a victory lap to speak with all world's inhabitants. Not only do they all have new things to say, ''period'', but [[DevelopersForesight a number of them actually have multiple possible lines of dialogue depending on what the player did or did not do during the story]]. Speaking to certain characters offers additional plot and character details, and there's even a cryptic SequelHook or two to find, [[LuckBasedMission if you're lucky]]. Interestingly, unlike ''[=EarthBound=]'' and ''Dragon Quest'', ''Undertale'' plops you right at the ''end'' of its game world, meaning revisiting any areas at all is entirely voluntary on the player's part.

* Following ''[=EarthBound=]'''s example, ''VideoGame/Undertale'''s GoldenEnding ''also'' allows the player a victory lap to speak with all world's inhabitants. Not only do they all have new things to say, ''period'', but [[DevelopersForesight a number of them actually have multiple possible lines of dialogue depending on what the player did or did not do during the story]]. Speaking to certain characters offers additional plot and character details, and there's even a cryptic SequelHook or two to find, [[LuckBasedMission if you're lucky]]. Interestingly, unlike ''[=EarthBound=]'' and ''Dragon Quest'', ''Undertale'' plops you right at the ''end'' of its game world, meaning revisiting any areas at all is entirely voluntary on the player's part.

** The last few minutes of ''WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}}'' (after Ego's re-review of Gusteau's restaurant) reveal what happened after Skinner and the health inspector were let go. [[spoiler: [[RealityEnsues They have Gusteau's shut down due to a rat infestation, and Ego loses his job due to giving a positive review to a "dirty" restaurant]]; Ego ends up investing in a new, successful restaurant run by Linguini and Colette, and we find out who Remy was narrating his story to.]]