Line #34 Main/BackstoryIndex


1	Ah, the {{Backstory}}; a trope that tells the reader what happened to Bob before all the chaos began. It can make you weep, groan with {{Narm}}, swell with pride, and [[WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius hack phlegm all over yourself at the same time.]]
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3	!!Tropes that are always backstories:
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5	* AccidentalChildKillerBackstory: A character responsible for a child's death in the past will carry that burden into the present.
6	* AdaptationalBackstoryChange: The backstory is changed in an adaptation.
7	* AdaptationalUpbringingChange: The character is raised differently or by different people in the adaptation.
8	* AmbiguousCriminalHistory: An unexplained criminal record.
9	* {{Backstory}}
10	* BackstoryHorror: Something seems simple or innocent enough, but after part of the backstory is revealed either by WordOfGod or in the show itself, it's hard to look at it the same again.
11	* BackstoryOfTheDay: Part of a character's backstory that has never been implied before is revealed only to fit in with the current episode's theme or events.
12	* CareerNotTaken: "I might like making a living doing X, but I've always wanted to do Y. I'm only doing X because of Z."
13	* CloseToHome: A character becomes involved in an incident that unearths old trauma.
14	* CopeByPretending: Something so horrible has happened/is happening to a character that, either knowingly or unknowingly, they pretend that it hasn't happened at all.
15	* CynicismCatalyst: One horrible experience, and a character gets a whole lot more cynical.
16	* DarkAndTroubledPast: A backstory packed with tragedy.
17	* DeadAllAlong: Character believed to have been alive the whole time is...not.
18	* DeathByOriginStory: Dying as a part of a character's backstory ensures that you're never coming back.
19	* DecoyBackstory: The backstory we were initially given for a character turns out to be untrue.
20	* DefeatAsBackstory: A character suffered a defeat sometime before the main events of the story.
21	* DeceasedParentsAreTheBest: When GoodParents are unfortunately also dead parents.
22	* ExpansionPackPast: The details of a character's past go on and on and on until it's incredibly complicated.
23	* FireStolenFromTheGods: Knowledge now held by mortals was taken from the gods in mythic times.
24	* TheFirstSuperheroes: A planet is superhero-virgin, then an event takes place that transforms a bunch of people into that world's first Supers.
25	* FreudianExcuse: The villain / jerk is the way they are because of a bad experience in their childhood / adolescence.
26	* FreudianExcuseDenial: A character denies any incident in their past or bad experience is a motivation for their current actions.
27	* FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse: Whether being told by a character or coming to the realization themselves, a villain learns that no, they cannot blame ''their'' actions on something bad they experienced.
28	* HisStoryRepeatsItself: To resolve or come to closure with something that happened in their backstory, a character experiences an event very similar to what happened before.
29	* HistoricalRapSheet: A historical event or disaster was caused by a character.
30	* HistoryWithCelebrity: A celebrity guest-stars in a work with the reason that they have history with one of the characters.
31	* HowDadMetMom: How two parents of a character met, either in one scene or a whole episode.
32	* MultipleChoicePast: Details of a character's backstory conflict with one another. There might be an in-universe reason, or it might be a writing flub.
33	* MysteriousPast: The backstory of a character either has very little detail or no detail at all.
34	* NewspaperBackstory: There's a brief shot of a newspaper clipping to show part of a character's backstory.
35	* NoOriginStoriesAllowed: When the creator doesn't even want to give a proper backstory for a character.
36	* OriginsEpisode: An episode or installment later in the series' run that is devoted to explaining a character's origins.
37	* ParentalAbandonment: Whether it's because they were kidnapped, killed, or willingly made the choice to leave, a parent (or parents) leave their child(ren) behind.
38	* ParentNeverCameBackFromTheStore: Parent claims to be running a simple errand, but doesn't return.
39	* PreInsanityReveal: TheReveal that insane characters used to be, well, not-insane.
40	* PreWarCivilianCareer: What happened to a character before they joined the service.
41	* PosthumousCharacter: Someone dies before or very, very early in a work, but they still have an important role in the story.
42	* RapeAsBackstory: The explanation for a character's current state is that they were raped in the past.
43	* RetiredBadass: Someone who used to be a badass in the day, but has given up the role.
44	* SportsHeroBackstory: Not only was a character good at sports in the past, they were the ''best'' at it.
45	* StandardCopBackstory: The general formula for a backstory--bad relationship with parents, time in foster care, maybe a younger sibling to care for, and one or two traumatic or otherwise harmful experiences.
46	* SurprisinglyNormalBackstory: Rather than a backstory full of trauma, tragedy, and loss, a character's backstory is pretty average for a human being.
47	* SympatheticMurderBackstory: A character once killed someone, but for sympathetic reasons--still, they carry guilt over it.
48	* TroubledBackstoryFlashback: Flashback showing the moment when a character's backstory went from happy and peaceful to downright tragic.
49	* WhenItAllBegan: The one moment or event that caused everything else in the story to be the way it is.
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51	!!Tropes that are ''sometimes'' backstories:
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53	* AbusiveParents: Parents that abuse their children, emotionally, physically, mentally, etc.
54	* AmbiguouslyAbsentParent: Growing up with a parent absent without explanation.
55	* AmbiguousStartOfDarkness: When the villain came to be a villain is uncertain.
56	* CampfireCharacterExploration: Characters sitting by a campfire take advantage of the moment to open up.
57	* CareerEndingInjury: A character's dreams or current career are/was completely destroyed by an injury that keeps them from pursuing it.
58	* CreationMyth: The world of a work has a myth (or maybe myths) for how everything was created.
59	* DoomedHometown: The destruction of the hero's hometown is what stirs them into the adventure.
60	* EpisodeZeroTheBeginning: An episode/chapter/issue of a series that is a prequel of the first installment. Basically, the beginning of something.
61	* GiveHimANormalLife: New parents stuck in a dangerous situation give their child up for adoption to spare them from the hardships of their lives.
62	* GriefInducedSplit: A couple breaks up after a tragedy, often their child's death.
63	* HadToBeSharp: Someone grew up in an environment that was so cutthroat, dangerous, and distrusting that they had to learn otherwise negative traits (thievery, being able to lie well, etc) just to survive.
64	* HarmlessFreezing: Someone is frozen and is then unfrozen after several years have passed, and must now adjust to the new world.
65	* HeroicBSOD: The hero suffers too much and has an emotional breakdown.
66	* ICouldaBeenAContender: Right as a character has or is about to accomplish something amazing and has a good future ahead of them, something happens that forces them to retire from it.
67	* KidHeroAllGrownUp: The hero of the story starts off as a child and becomes an adult by the end, either by TimeSkip or over the course of the plot.
68	* TheLostLenore: The lover, spouse, or pined-for love of a character was killed, and they are still very much hurt by it.
69	* MyGreatestFailure: A character once made a mistake or choice that ended so poorly for them that it haunts them forever after.
70	* MyGreatestSecondChance: A character prevents a mistake they regret making from happening again, to them or to others.
71	* {{Mythopoeia}}: Fictional world has fictional mythology.
72	* NeverHadToys: A character grew up with no toys, whether by choice or due to abuse or poverty.
73	* NoPlaceForAWarrior: Someone who has spent so long in a combat-heavy environment that settling down to normal civilian life is difficult.
74	* PastExperienceNightmare: Something bad in a character's past still haunts them in nightmares.
75	* APlaceHoldsMemories: A character reflects on their past while in a significant location.
76	* PostAdventureAdventure: A character had a previous, unseen, adventure that set up the one we're going to see.
77	* {{Prequel}}: A story set before the main story.
78	* RealAwardFictionalCharacter: A fictional character earns a RealLife award, like the Pulitzer Prize or similar.
79	* SerialSpouse: A character who has been divorced again and again and again.
80	* ShootingLessonsFromYourParents: Parents or parental figures teach their children the skill of being a sharpshooter.
81	* SomberBackstoryRevelation: A character's past is discussed in a somber mood.
82	* StartOfDarkness: A prequel about how the villain came to be who they are.
83	* TaughtToHate: A character's enmity towards a person or group was taught to them by others.
84	* UpbringingMakesTheHero: A prequel about where a down-to-earth home life gave potentially evil-inclined characters and normal ones the moral grounding to excel, thus becoming good guys.
85	* YouAllShareMyStory: All seemingly unrelated characters are actually connected.

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