History YMMV / TheTommyknockers

* CrazyAwesome: The Tommyknockers and their affected Havenites initially play this straight, but then [[DeconstructedTrope deconstruct]] it. Their abilities allow them to create crazy awesome things like flying tractors, typewriters that operate via telepathy, and a water heater powered by a small nuclear reactor-many of them by using mere D-cell batteries as the power source. However, the Tommyknockers' technological prowess is hindered by their psychosis (meaning that the "Crazy" part keeps them from being Awesome for long) and doesn't permit them to really use their abilities in the long run. The affected Havenites have a little better luck as they can devise efficient uses for this knowledge, but often overlook little details (such as the use of a DC converter) and succumb to the same psychotic bents.

** Tommy and Hester, the two kids sent on a mission outside of town limits (where they may have seen [[Literature/It Pennywise]]) which requires some VillainousValor given the injuries it threatens, which do in fact happen.

** IntrepidReporter Johnny Leandro, for being a somewhat humorousoyneager character but also doing a very thorough job investigating what's going on and brilliantly averting a HaveYouToldAnyoneElse scenario by telling another rcoulkesge everything he's figured outs before heading into danger.
** Ruth, for resisting the changes and earning her descriotion as heart and soul of the town.
** Tommy and Hester, the two kids sent on a mission outside of town limits (and may have seen pennywise) which requires some VillainousValor given the withdraw injuries it threatens, which do in fact happen.

--->'''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic:''' OH MY GOD! You left a search for a lost child to FUCK THE MAIL LADY?! First the sandwiches, then the evil laughter, now abandoning a child to get laid!

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotPolitical: Gardener's views on nuclear power echo Stephen King's own, and it's clear it's a subject that he's passionat about (both King ''and'' Gardener), but King puts those views into the mouth of a man who is, at that point in the story, a thoroughly unlikable alcoholic who approaches the subject with about as much grace and aplomb as a mass shooting. If King was trying to make a point, it was lost by who was delivering it. When Gard sobers up, he's embarrassed and ashamed of how he acted.

* {{Narm}}: The scene in the Vet's office in the miniseries. It would've been alright in itself but the people waiting for the Vet had a Komodo Dragon, a Cobra and an Owl. It comes off as more silly than dramatic.
** Also, the scene with the writer throwing himself off the balcony.
* NightmareFuel: The various effects on the Havenites as a result of the Tommyknockers' presence are quite unnerving. Various people find themselves bleeding uncontrollably, everyone loses their teeth, and, in the case of a few, their skin becomes transparent and they have tentacles where their genitals should be. Such things also count as examples of NauseaFuel and {{Squick}}, respectively.
** The violent acts the Havenites commit towards one another and others are also pretty unnerving. Such as one's giddy murder of two investigating policemen by obliterating them with a green light from his makeshift bazooka. And how another casually forces a poker buddy to partially disintegrate himself before he sends him to Altair-IV to die, [[DisproportionateRetribution all over cheating him for pennies in past games]].
** The [[AndIMustScream horrific fate]] of [[spoiler:those trapped in the shed behind Bobbi's house, including her poor dog]]

* NeverLiveItDown: The only thing that anyone can ever remember about Gardener is that he shot his wife. Never mind that it was non-fatal, she didn't press charges, or any other thing he's ever done, all that important is that he shot his wife. However, this does establish Gard's position as a ClassicalAntiHero and show just how dangerous he can be when his drinking lowers his inhibitions.

* CrazyAwesome: The Tommyknockers and their affected Havenites initially play this straight, but then [[DeconstructedTrope deconstruct]] it. Their abilities allow them to do crazy awesome things like flying tractors, typewriters that operate via telepathy, and a water heater powered by a small nuclear reactor-many of them by using mere D-cell batteries as the power source. However, the Tommyknockers' technological prowess is hindered by their psychosis (meaning that the "Crazy" part keeps them from being Awesome for long) and doesn't permit them to really use their abilities in the long run. The affected Havenites have a little better luck as they can devise efficient uses for this knowledge, but often overlook little details (such as the use of a DC converter) and succumb to the same psychotic bents.

* CrazyAwesome: The Tommyknockers and their affected Havenites initially play this straight, but then [[DeconstructedTrope deconstruct]] it. Their abilities allow them to do crazy awesome things like flying tractors, typewriters that operate via telepathy, and a water heater powered by a small nuclear reactor-many of them by using mere D-cell batteries as the power source. However, the Tommyknockers' technological prowess is hindered by their psychosis (meaning that the "Crazy" part keeps them from being Awesome for long) and that passes onto the Havenites.

* NeverLiveItDown: The only thing that anyone can ever remember about Gardener is that he shot his wife. Never mind that it was non-fatal, she didn't press charges, or any other thing he's ever done, all that important is that he shot his wife.
** Well, having shot his wife is a pretty huge indicator as to what kind of person he is under the surface, when alcohol lowers his inhibitions. Just because Gard is the protagonist of the story doesn't mean he's a good guy.

** Also, the scene with the writer throwing himself off the balcony. WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic even remarks that it's like the ending to a Goofy cartoon.

** Also, the scene with the writer throwing himself off the balcony. TheNostalgiaCritic even remarks that it's like the ending to a Goofy cartoon.

- Well, having shot his wife is a pretty huge indicator as to what kind of person he is under the surface, when alcohol lowers his inhibitions. Just because Gard is the hero of the story doesn't mean he's a good guy.

* NeverLiveItDown: The only thing that anyone can ever remember about Gardener is that he shot his wife. Never mind that it was non-fatal, she didn't press charges, or any other thing he's ever done, all that important is that he shot his wife.

* HeyItsThatVoice: In the miniseries. Joe's wife = [[{{Recess}} Miss Grotke]]

* NeverLiveItDown: The only thing that anyone can ever remember about Gardener is that he shot his wife. Never mind that it was non-fatal, she didn't press charges, or any other thing he's ever done, all that important is that he shot his wife.

** Becka's cheating husband has one after several earlier petty KickTheDog moments: he leaves early from a search for a missing child to go sleep with his mistress since he knows that the search will keep his cop wife occupied. Read that again. He ''abandons a missing child'' to go cheat on his wife.

** Becka's cheating husband has one after several earlier petty KickTheDog moments: he leaves early from a search for a missing child to go sleep with his mistress since he knows that the search will keep his cop wife occupied. Read that again. He ''abandons a missing child'' to go cheat on his wife.

* MoralEventHorizon: For Gardener, the Tommyknockers cross it, when he finds out what's in Bobbi's shed. [[spoiler: They keep people locked up in shower cabinets filled with some green liquid, attach cables to their brains, and suck the energy out of them; a long, incredibly painful process. He's especially freaked out to discover Bobbi's dog also hooked up.]]

* AdaptationDecay: The miniseries, especially the ending.