History Main / ScreeningTheCall

* In the latest {{Film/Transformers}} movie, Dark of the Moon, Sam's new girlfriend Whatshername is playing this trope when Sam starts assembling the clues to a new adventure. She would prefer that he leave his dangerous ways in the past while he safely basks in their glory in the present. She fears that if he goes off to war again that it will be a repeat of the tragedy that claimed her brother. Unfortunately for her when she leaves Sam she unwittingly walks straight into the thick of the plot and becomes a DamselInDistress.

*** Unfortunately, ''way'' too many Guardians come to the conclusion that they're wise enough to pick who should Awaken and who shouldn't, and start playing the Labyrinth to their own ends. This is why ''nobody'' likes the Guardians (they're third after the Seers and the Free Council on the "least popular group" list).

*** It was also a protection from opportunists (other than "The Other") who might use her as a political pawn, as they did with a more distant relation. Punch and Judy further delayed the call by sticking her in a university, where her mediocrity would stand out in contrast to all the Sparks while forcing her to learn the hard way what comes naturally to them. When the PowerLimiter came off, she had all that education at her disposal, and she was ready for the call.

[[YouCantFightFate Eventually]], those [[DoomedHometown well-meaning but obstructive people]] will discover that TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive, and will thus be forced to give in, if they aren't killed off first.

* In the latest Transformers movie, Dark of the Moon, Sam's new girlfriend Whatshername is playing this trope when Sam starts assembling the clues to a new adventure. She would prefer that he leave his dangerous ways in the past while he safely basks in their glory in the present. She fears that if he goes off to war again that it will be a repeat of the tragedy that claimed her brother. Unfortunately for her when she leaves Sam she unwittingly walks straight into the thick of the plot and becomes a DamselInDistress.

* ''PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': Homura is actively trying to prevent Madoka from becoming a Magical Girl. [[spoiler: It doesn't work, but that turns out to be good. Sort of.]]
** Homura has a good reason to screen Madoka's calls. Madoka is actually [[spoiler: an ApocalypseMaiden.]]
** The real reason is that [[spoiler:Homura really, ''really'' [[LesYayShipping likes Madoka]], and stops her to honour her last wish in an alternate universe. The whole ApocalypseMaiden thing is just icing on the cake.]]

* ''PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': Homura is actively trying to prevent Madoka from becoming a Magical Girl. [[spoiler: So far (as of episode 10) she's been successful.]]

** The real reason is that [[spoiler:Homura is really, ''really'' [[HoYayShipping like Madoka]], and stops her to honour her last wish in alternate universe. The whole ApocalypseMaiden thing is just icing to the cake.]]

** [[spoiler: Although she's ultimately doing it for [[BecauseYouWereNiceToMe selfish reasons]],]] Homura has a good reason to screen Madoka's calls. Madoka is actually [[spoiler: an ApocalypseMaiden.]]

** [[spoiler: Although she's ultimately doing it for [[BecauseYouWereNiceToMe selfish reasons]],]] Homura has a good reason to screen Madoka's calls. Madoka is actually [[spoiler: an ApocalypseMaiden!]]

** [[spoiler: Although she's ultimately doing it for [[BecauseYouWereNiceToMe selfish reasons]],]] Homura has a good reason to screen Madoka's calls. Madoka is actually [[[spoiler: ''an ApocalypseMaiden!'']]'

'''Examples:'''

* ''PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': Homura is actively trying to prevent Madoka from becoming a Magical Girl. [[spoiler: So far (as of episode 9) she's been successful.]]
** Although Homura is not above ''shooting'' Kyubey for that purpose. [[spoiler:Kyubey immediately re-appears, however.]]

* ''PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': Homura is actively trying to prevent Madoka from becoming a Magical Girl. [[spoiler: So far (as of episode 8) she's been successful.]]

* In {{Psychonauts}}, Raz's father forces Raz into rigerous acrobatics training in order to keep him from mastering his psychic potential. Not because he's overprotective but due to his prejudices against psychics. [[spoiler:turns out at during TheReveal that the father he meets in the mental realm was built on Raz's exaggerated perceptions of his father and his real father appears and tells Raz he really was only trying to protect him.]]

----
<<|CallToAdventure|>>

* In {{Psychonauts}}, Raz's father forces Raz into rigerous acrobatics training inorder to keep him from mastering his psychic potential. Not because he's overprotective but due to his prejudices against psychics. [[spoiler:turns out at during TheReveal that the father he meets in the mental realm was built on Raz's exaggerated perceptions of his father and his real father appears and tells Raz he really was only trying to protect him.]]

Why? Maybe the Hero's LoveInterest knows the TheHerosJourney is dangerous and, [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy well...]] Maybe the Hero has [[MyBelovedSmother really]] [[OverprotectiveDad overprotective parents]] who [[MamaBear don't want]] their child harmed. Maybe some [[DownerEnding tragedy]] has occurred in the past and it's known that [[TurnOutLikeHisFather adventure]] [[ItRunsInTheFamily runs in the family]]. Maybe the Hero is in store for some [[AFateWorseThanDeath really nasty fate]]. Maybe the town is uncomfortable with the Hero's StockSuperpowers and would really rather he were [[WhyCouldntYouBeDifferent just normal]]. Maybe they have an interest in making sure NothingExcitingEverHappensHere (after all, adventure is [[NoEndorHolocaust really bad for property values]]). In really extreme circumstances, those Screening the Call might take the Hero [[OffingTheOffspring out of the equation]].

* Jim Butcher's ''Alera'' series makes use of this trope, although it's the overprotective parent flavor, and at least partially an accident.