History Main / FictionNeverLies

* FromACertainPointOfView: When something stated has a justification that rests on a very, very shaky technicality which most people would not consider valid and otherwise seems like BlatantLies.

This is an OmnipresentTrope. VillainsNeverLie would be a subtrope and is both when other characters trust obviously untrustworthy characters, as well as the tendency for villains to lie less often then we would expect of them. Video games are noted for being more "trustworthy" than other media, so the trope PlayingThePlayer exists to describe games in which the player is actively deceived in a particularly surprising way. See also ShowDontTell, a general rule in storytelling stating that the audience is more likely to buy into the story if depicted through actions and demonstrations rather than dialogue; and InformedAttribute, in which the audience is expected to accept information about someone or something because they are told as such.

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This is an OmnipresentTrope. VillainsNeverLie would be a subtrope and is both when other characters trust obviously untrustworthy characters, as well as the tendency for villains to lie less often then we would expect of them. Video games are noted for being more "trustworthy" than other media, so the trope PlayingThePlayer exists to describe games in which the player is actively deceived in a particularly surprising way. See also ShowDontTell, a general rule in storytelling stating that the audience is more likely to buy into the story if depicted through actions and demonstrations rather than dialogue; and InformedAttribute, in which the audience is expected to accept information about someone or something through dialogue.

This is an OmnipresentTrope. VillainsNeverLie would be a subtrope and is both when other characters trust obviously untrustworthy characters, as well as the tendency for villains to lie less often then we would expect of them. Video games are noted for being more "trustworthy" than other media, so the trope PlayingThePlayer exists to describe games in which the player is actively deceived in a particularly surprising way.

* RashomonStyle: When a story is made up of multiple narrations by different viewpoints of the same event, none of which add up or agree with one another. Of course, this time the reader expects falsehood.
* UnreliableNarrator: When a narrator has the same kinds of biases and uncertainties as a normal person would, and therefore their account isn't always trustworthy to the reader.

This is an OmnipresentTrope. VillainsNeverLie would be a subtrope and is both when other characters trust obviously untrustworthy characters, as well as the tendency for villains to lie less often then we would expect of them.

* UnreliableExpositor: The words are put in the mouth of people who has a very vague idea of what's going on and/or reasons to misguide even if they do. Characters don't even have to ''intentionally'' make up anything. Like most people, they tend to justify their actions. Not being omniscient, they may close gaps by jumping to conclusions.

The act of reading a book, or watching a movie, or playing a game, is a bond of trust between the audience and the creator. The audience is ''trusting'' that the creator isn't going to waste their time and will provide a satisfactory experience. For the audiences part, the first step in that relationship is participating in said media (reading the book, watching the movie, etc.) The second step is buying into it, in other words, WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief, but it's not only that. You see, when it comes to stories, the audience is intended to believe everything a character says is the truth, unless given a reason to believe otherwise.

How exhausting would it be to watch a relatively straight forward RomanticComedy and have to wonder if when every time a character said they were doing something without a scene to prove it, they weren't cutting up grandmas, robbing banks or killing vampires? Second guessing everything a character says when it's not necessary only takes away from the enjoyment of the work. It either turns your mind into a snarl, or your brain comes up with a scenario that is so much cooler than what actually happens that you are disappointed.

But even more than characters, a reader is expected to trust the narrative, especially if it's in the Third Person PointOfView. How can a reader know or even guess what's going on if they can't trust what the narrator is telling them? If the narrator is lying, the story could change at any moment, anything could happen. That thing we were told isn't possible? It could happen. That guy we are told is dead? He could come back. Everything we were lead to believe is important could be shoved aside and a whole new plot could start up. Seriously, if you can't trust anything the narrator says, then why bother reading or watching the story in the first place?

* PlotTwist: When, after having lead you into believing one thing about what is happening, something happens which radically changes this perception. When this doesn't happen until the end, it's a TwistEnding.