History Main / TheSummation

* The ''VideoGame/ProfessorLayton'' series generally averts this.

-->-- '''Number Four''' [[spoiler:(a.k.a. Claud Duvall)]], ''[[Literature/HerculePoirot The Big Four]]'' (TV adaptation)

->''"You'd already worked out where I was! You could have sent the police to arrest me at any time, but instead you had to have your big finale, [[SummationGathering bring everyone here]] to [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech show them how clever you've been!]]"''
-->-- '''Number Four''', ''[[HerculePoirot The Big Four]]'' (TV adaptation)

* The titular character of ''DetectiveConan'' can't NOT do this. He does it so compulsively that the detective he regularly pretends to be has become famous for passing out and then giving a "deduction show" while unconscious. In fact, Conan does this SO compulsively that at the end of the 11th movie, [[spoiler:the delay NEARLY KILLS the cast, as he's giving the summation [[EverythingTryingToKillYou in an underwater cavern filling up with water and poisonous gas during an EARTHQUAKE.]]]]
* Happens all the time in ''{{Spiral}}''.
* When [[GuileHero Agero]] from ''TowerOfGod'' explains why and how he made his team lose the Hide-And-Seek test against Quant to [[FriendOnTheForce Lero-ro]].

* Ciel and [[spoiler: Sebastian]] from ''BlackButler'' sum just about everything that happened during the murder mystery arc and how it was to the Wordsmith Arther.

* Done by Gabe in just about every issue of ''TheMazeAgency''. Occasionally {{lampshade|Hanging}}d by having another character think they've solved the mystery and do the summation, only for Gabe to explain why they are wrong and provide the true solution.

[[folder:Film]]

* Played with in ''HotFuzz''. Once where [[spoiler:Sgt. Angel confronts Skinner, and lays out why he thinks he's committed the murders; Nothing comes of it, because as it turns out Angel's wrong on a few points, which (for the moment) exonerates Skinner. The second time is a Summation by the Neighborhood Watch Alliance, but [[InvertedTrope it's the]] ''[[InvertedTrope culprits]]'' [[InvertedTrope giving it to the hero]], who's just shocked and amazed by the meager justification they had for killing people.]]

* Subverted in ''Anime/ResidentEvilDegeneration'', where Claire is making one at [[spoiler:Senator Davis]], explaining his motives for causing the havoc in the film...until Leon shows up and says someone they apprehended earlier has spilled the beans, and [[spoiler:Senator Davis]] is entirely innocent, if still a sleazebag.

* ''NewTricks'', in which one of the squad explains how a suspected arsonist ''didn't'' burn down his factory; the explosion and fire was caused by an accident gasleak and a spark from the ringing of his mobile phone, which he had accidentally left behind.

* Rarely done on ''Shark'', except for the time that Stark [[spoiler: turned a suicide into a murder victim and framed a guy]].

* A whole bunch of episodes of ''VeronicaMars''.

* Common in ''PushingDaisies'', but done by the {{narrator}} instead of an actual character.
* ''{{Psych}}'' typically has two: first Shawn's BS-laden explanation to the police of what's happened and how to prove it, and then his explanation to Gus and/or Henry of how he figured it out.
* Parodied in ''ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'' when the gang is trying to figure out who keeps pooping in Charlie and Frank's bed. At the end of the episode, Artemis gives a long summation showing that each member of the gang is guilty. Frank then denies the story and admits that he did it all, because "poop is funny." He even pooped on the floor while Artemis was making her summation.

* Generally averted in ''CityHomicide'', where the team works it out between themselves. Some exceptions include Sparkes' interview with Frances Deerborne in "Family Planning" and Rhys deducing what happened to Gisela Goldberg in "Gut Instinct."

* The ''ProfessorLayton'' series generally averts this.

* The Forensics chapters of ''TraumaTeam'' have the player figure out what happened to the victim. A few of them are quite...[[NightmareFuel ugly]]...[[TearJerker and depressing.]]

* Bart (and sometimes Lisa) from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', gets to do this, displaying uncanny reasoning skills you wouldn't associate with him, whenever Sideshow Bob shows up, notably in his first two appearances when he frames Krusty for robbery and tries to kill Selma. Even though his third appearance in the episode ''Cape Feare'' isn't so much of a mystery plot, but has more of a straight forward "I'm coming to get my revenge!" premise, Bart still tells a gathering at the end of the episode how he managed to distract Sideshow Bob.

* Basically the entire last episode of the first season of ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex\'' acted as one because the series is just that complicated.

* Basically the entire last episode of the first season of ''[[GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex]]'' acted as one because the series is just that complicated.

* At the end of the first arc of ''{{Fables}}'', [[TheBigBadWolf Bigby Wolf]], the Fabletown sheriff, gets to do one of these about Rose Red's [[spoiler:not-]]murder, calling it the "parlor room scene" and explaining that it's every detective's dream to perform it.

* ''TheUsualSuspects'': Subverted as part of the [[TheEndingChangesEverything infamous plot twist]]. Agent Kujan believes he has figured out that [[spoiler:Keaton was Keyser Soze]] and explains this to Verbal Kint, complete with revelatory montage. The explanation seems to hold water and Verbal is allowed to go. Seconds later, Kujan realizes that [[spoiler:Verbal's story, from which Kujan created his explanation, was completely fabricated--Verbal himself is Keyser Soze]].

* ''AShotInTheDark''. By the end of the movie Inspector Clouseau still hasn't been able to work out who the killer is, so he gathers everyone in the one room and starts giving an overly long summation of how he detected the killer, while ordering his deputy to turn out the lights at a particular time so the guilty culprit will panic and flee. [[spoiler:Because their watches haven't been synchronised Clouseau has to ramble on for so long the guilty parties start confessing anyway (it turns out everyone in the room commited one crime or another) so when the lights go out they all flee and get blown up by a car bomb meant for Clouseau.]]
* In ''DialMForMurder'', one of the characters gives the summation as a purely hypothetical imagining of what could have happened, not realizing that that is exactly what did happen.
* ''{{Brick}}'' has the protagonist, Brendan, giving it to the mastermind behind it all, to prove they're well and truly caught. He only gets one detail wrong: [[spoiler: the intended result.]]

* The first MissionImpossible film showed Ethan Hunt's ''internal'' summations (there are two possible solutions, depending on whether or not there was an accomplice) during a conversation with the BigBad, while Ethan is verbally agreeing with the BigBad that someone else did it.

* ''HaruhiSuzumiya'' did this once, with plenty of {{Shout Out}}s to ''PhoenixWright''.

* Played with in ''HotFuzz''. Once where [[spoiler:Sgt. Angel confronts Skinner, and lays out why he thinks he's committed the murders; subverted in that nothing comes of it, because as it turns out Angel's wrong on a few points, which (for the moment) exonerates Skinner. The second time is a Summation by the Neighborhood Watch Alliance, a subversion because it's the ''culprits'' giving it to the hero, who's just shocked and amazed by the meager justification they had for killing people.]]
* Subverted as part of the [[TheEndingChangesEverything infamous plot twist]] at the end of ''TheUsualSuspects''. Agent Kujan believes he has figured out that [[spoiler:Keaton was Keyser Soze]] and explains this to Verbal Kint, complete with revelatory montage. The explanation seems to hold water and Verbal is allowed to go. But seconds later, Kujan realizes that [[spoiler:Verbal's story, from which Kujan created his explanation, was completely fabricated--Verbal himself is Keyser Soze]].

* Practically [[Literature/HerculePoirot every]] [[Literature/MissMarple book]] by Creator/AgathaChristie.
* ErastFandorin does this, of course. Subverted in ''Murder on the Leviathan'', when another detective gave a summation [[YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle 2/3rds of the way through]].

* Ingeniously subverted in the Literature/AlbertCampion mystery [[spoiler:''Dancers in Mourning'']]. Campion has essentially finished the summation when he realizes he's all wrong.

* This occurs in nearly every episode of ''Series/{{Monk}}'', usually from the title character. Hence we should probably call hi the TropeCodifier. The line "Here's what happened" is normally used for these and is used in almost every episode (or possibly every episode)

** Another good one is in "Mr. Monk Gets Cabin Fever": while pinned down by sniper fire, Monk and Randy each get their Eureka moment at the exact same time, and say in perfect unison, "Oh my God, I've got it! Here's what happened:"... then the camera jumps back and forth between their summations.
** Or the one where Monk becomes traumatized because of an earthquake, and does the entire summation in gibberish. You can still kind of tell what he's saying because the show still gives you flashbacks to the crime.

** {{Subverted}} in the episode "Mr. Monk Goes to Jail," when Sharona does the Summation instead of Monk.

* A subversion occurs in an episode of ''NewTricks'', in which one of the squad explains how a suspected arsonist ''didn't'' burn down his factory; the explosion and fire was caused by an accident gasleak and a spark from the ringing of his mobile phone, which he had accidentally left behind.

* Related to the above, ''VisualNovel/UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'' has this at the end of the fourth arc. It's subverted, since [[spoiler:Battler's explanations for the mysteries are completely wrong, and though he defeats Beatrice he isn't even close to the truth.]]

* Subverted in the ''WhateleyUniverse'' Story solving Reach. It was [[spoiler: For the sole purpose of getting the bad guy to flee, scared stiff, and reveal where she kept the hostage. The Summation, however, was real. They just needed that last info. (And the bad guy needed to accomplish his/her plan.)]]

* Basically the entire last episode of the first season of ''[[GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex]]'' acted as one.

* At the end of the first arc of ''{{Fables}}'', [[BigBadassWolf Bigby Wolf]], the Fabletown sheriff, gets to do one of these about Rose Red's [[spoiler:not-]]murder, calling it the "parlor room scene" and explaining that it's basically every detective's dream to actually perform it.

* The best summation ever was conducted by TimCurry in full maniac mode at the end of the movie ''Film/{{Clue}}'', and included as much reenactment of ''every single event'' of the evening as he can very humorously manage.

** It's also a bit of a subversion, since his summation is not really helpful in identifying the killer. In fact, in two of the MultipleEndings, his explanation of how the murders of Mr. Boddy and the cook were committed is flat-out wrong.
* Sort of subverted twice in ''HotFuzz''. Once where [[spoiler:Sgt. Angel confronts Skinner, and lays out why he thinks he's committed the murders; subverted in that nothing comes of it, because as it turns out Angel's wrong on a few points, which (for the moment) exonerates Skinner. The second time is a Summation by the Neighborhood Watch Alliance, a subversion because it's the ''culprits'' giving it to the hero, who's just shocked and amazed by the meager justification they had for killing people.]]

* The ''AceAttorney'' games have this. Except for case 1-4, they are set to that games version of "Announce the Truth."

** In "Mr. Monk and the Miracle," Monk and Natalie disguise themselves as nuns to sneak into a monastery to rescue a converted Captain Stottlemeyer. It's funny because they actually have to harmonize their voices to blend in the summation. You get your usual flashback shots, but Monk and Natalie are speaking in emotionless bass voices. Natalie sounds like she's trying to speak a tenor.

* Ingeniously subverted in the AlbertCampion mystery [[spoiler:''Dancers in Mourning'']]. Campion has essentially finished the summation when he realizes he's all wrong.

** Also, the Court of Illusions in the fifth arc (same as above), and [[spoiler:the Will versus Claire battle]] in the seventh (right, but delivered in semi-cryptic senteces).

** Also, the Court of Illusions in the fifth arc, and [[spoiler:the Will versus Claire battle]] in the seventh.

* ''{{Scooby-Doo}}''. Providing the Summation is part of Fred Jones and Velma Dinkley's job description on the show.
** Sometimes in ''{{Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated}}'', the culprit will do this themselves after being caught.

->''"Here's what happened."''
-->--'''[[Series/{{Monk}} Adrian Monk]]'''

* Being a BadassNormal detective, {{Batman}} naturally tends to do this.

* The ''HarryPotter'' series: Harry gets one in ''The Chamber of Secrets'', near the end, he explains to Ron what the monster is and how it's been getting around the castle, having figured it out from the torn page they found in Hermione's hand.

!!Examples

** This was hilariously subverted on "Mr. Monk and the Garbage Strike": Monk, driven insane by a garbage strike, does the summation line before a telling an insane story about Alice Cooper murdering a man so he could steal his antique wingback chair.

* ''VisualNovel/DanganRonpa'' requires the player to put together the summation themselves in the form of a manga that is missing panels. Evidence is used to fill in the gaps in the story, and once everything is in place the main character will walk the others through the crime. This phase of the game called "Climax Inference".

* ''Dangan Ronpa'' requires the player to put together the summation themselves in the form of a manga that is missing panels. Evidence is used to fill in the gaps in the story, and once everything is in place the main character will walk the others through the crime. This phase of the game called "Climax Inference".

* Due to the story of ''{{Persona 4}}'', this happens multiple times over the course of the game, with different twists based on the evidence you get. The second to last one is done by [[spoiler:the killer themself]], and fantastically tears down the entire structure of the case thus far.

** Sometimes in ''{{WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated}}'', the culprit will do this themselves after being caught.

** Sometimes in ''{{WesternAnimation/Scooby-DooMysteryIncorporated}}'', the culprit will do this themselves after being caught.

** Sometimes in ''{{Scooby-DooMysteryIncorporated}}'', the culprit will do this themselves after being caught.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode "Dial L for Leela" (part of "[[Recap/FuturamaS2E16AnthologyOfInterestI Anthology of Interest I]]"), Dr. Zoidberg investigates the murders around Planet Express, eventually calling everyone into the accusing parlour to reveal a boot print on Professor Farnsworth's lab coat and Amy Wong's corpse in the . Throughout the summation, Leela (who is an impulsive murderer in this story) keeps turning the lights off right as another character (Cubert Farnsworth, then Scruffy the Janitor, then Nibbler) is about to reveal the murderer, with said character revealed to be speared upon the lights coming back. Eventually, Zoidberg recieves a letter from Bender (who also had been killed) revealing who done it.