Line #1 Main/ContinuityTropes


1	{{Trope}}s about {{Continuity}}, which is the coherence (or lack thereof) of the characters, {{plot}}, and narrative elements through a story.
2
3	See also CanonUniverse, {{Consistency}}, and PlotTime.
4	----
5	!!Tropes:
6	[[index]]
7	[floatboxright:
8	'''Main topic:'''
9	* {{Continuity}}
10
11	'''Related indexes:'''
12	* CanonUniverse
13	* {{Crossover}}s
14	]
15	* AbsentAnimalCompanion: Pets tend to show up in one episode of an episodic series, and disappear forever by the next.
16	* AdaptationInducedPlotHole: An adaptation brings in a plot hole that wasn't in the original work.
17	* AdvertisingOnlyContinuity: What happens in tie-in commercials isn't consistent with the canon of the work the commercials tie into.
18	* AgelessBirthdayEpisode: The age of the corresponding character is an important part of the on-going series narrative.
19	* AllianceOfAlternates: Incarnations of the same person from different [[AlternateUniverse universes]], [[AlternateContinuity continuities]] and/or [[AlternateTimeline timelines]] teaming up.
20	* AlreadyMetEveryone: A prequel establishes that the characters already knew each other before the events of the original series.
21	* AlternateContinuity: The work is its own separate work but cannot be reconciled with the original. Related to AlternateTimeline. It only becomes an AlternateUniverse if [[LampshadeHanging it's mentioned in a particular incarnation]].
22	* AlternateTimeline: The work's main PointOfDivergence comes from an event in the timeline of the original.
23	* AnachronicOrder: The series' installments are deliberately released in a different order from when the installments chronologically occur.
24	* ArmedWithCanon: Various writers argue over what's {{Canon}} from different incarnations of a franchise.
25	* TheArtifact: It's still there, but do we need it now in the continuity?
26	* AscendedFanon: The fans' interpretation of something becomes canon.
27	* AssPull: An explanation or solution that comes out of left field and disregards what had already been established in the story, named from the idea that the writer just pulled an answer from their ass.
28	* AudienceAlienatingEra: A period where the franchise just isn't as popular as it used to be.
29	* AuthorsSavingThrow: Changes are made to the work to appease complaints and criticisms from the audience.
30	* BackstoryInvader: A new character changes the other characters' memories, or reality itself, to make themselves an accepted part of the continuity.
31	* BackToTheEarlyInstallment: Revisiting prior installments through time travel.
32	* BizarroEpisode: An episode of the series sticks out like a sore thumb due to having a weird premise that doesn't mesh well with the other episodes.
33	* BroadStrokes: Some of the events happened, but not ''exactly'' in the manner described. {{Canon}} is a ''guideline'', not an absolute rule.
34	* CallBack: Referring to a past event in the StoryArc.
35	* CallForward: In a {{Prequel}} or {{Interquel}}, references to an event that audiences who've seen the original work know will eventually happen.
36	* CanonCharacterAllAlong: A character initially appearing to be a CanonForeigner turns out to be the alias of or the work's interpretation of an already established character.
37	* CanonDiscontinuity: When an episode or installment of a series is confirmed to be non-canon.
38	* CanonFodder: Unexplored canon information that's ripe for exploring.
39	* CanonForeigner: The adaptation features a new character who didn't exist in the original work.
40	* CanonIllustrations: Illustrations from a release that's not the original one become canon.
41	* CanonImmigrant: A character created for the adaptation is added to the continuity of the source material.
42	* CanonInvasion: When a company merges the canon of a work of their own to a work they acquired the rights to.
43	* CanonWelding: Two unrelated works become one, but not exactly in {{crossover}} fashion.
44	* CerebusCallBack: A CallBack that paints a previously lighthearted moment in a darker tone.
45	* CerebusRetcon: A retcon wherein an earlier lighthearted or inconsequential event is reinterpreted in a darker and more serious context.
46	* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: A character abruptly stops making appearances and is never mentioned again.
47	* CliffhangerCopout: A series has one episode end on a clear cliffhanger and never explains the outcome of that cliffhanger.
48	* CliffhangerWall: Instead of moving the series' continuity forward, the next few entries take place earlier in the timeline, often disregarding a SequelHook that the last chronological installment ended with.
49	* ClueFromEd: For the benefit of comics readers who haven't read earlier issues, an event mentioned in dialog or captions has an asterisk next to it, and down near the panel border is a little message, saying something like, '''"See Volume 4, Issue 3 - Ed."'''
50	* {{Consistency}}: What {{Canon}} should strive to have.
51	* ContinuityCavalcade: [[CallBack Callbacks]] to many previous episodes or installments are made in one fell swoop.
52	* ContinuityCameo: Character from a continuity makes a cameo in another.
53	* ContinuityCreep: A work becomes far more continuity-driven as time goes.
54	* ContinuityDrift: Basic canon information is elaborated upon, but in a way that doesn't mesh well with what was originally established.
55	* ContinuityLockOut: Haven't seen the last six episodes? Then you won't know what's going on!
56	* ContinuityNod: A reference is made to the events of a previous episode or installment of the series.
57	* ContinuityOverlap: Events within a specific continuity starts directly affecting other continuities.
58	* ContinuityPorn: Tons and tons of {{Continuity Nod}}s, which may be detrimental to a work.
59	* ContinuityReboot: An installment of the franchise that ignores the canon of the previous installments in favor of establishing a new continuity.
60	* ContinuityRebooter: An in-universe character causes the work's universe to be rebooted.
61	* ContinuitySnarl: The work makes changes and developments that result in glaring continuity inconsistencies.
62	* CosmeticallyAdvancedPrequel: The prequel has a better and more advanced look to it than the work it takes place before due to the production team having access to better equipment and techniques.
63	* CosmicRetcon: A retcon is caused by the work's reality being altered by in-universe events.
64	* {{Crossover}}: Two series in a SeriesFranchise join up for a special event.
65	* CuttingOffTheBranches: One of the MultipleEndings of the story is declared canon.
66	* DeusExMachina: Sudden events that solve an apparently unsolvable problem/conflict.
67	* DiagnosisOfGod: A work's creator diagnoses a character outside the work or deny that they have a disorder.
68	* DiscontinuityNod: Characters make a disparaging reference to a reviled part of the franchise.
69	* DisplacedOrigin: The original premise of a character or story is forgotten or modified into something completely different.
70	* DoomedByCanon: If a character is dead in the series' other installments, the prequel can't prevent their death from happening.
71	* DroppedAfterThePilot: A character introduced in the series' pilot is absent for the rest of the series.
72	* DubInducedPlotHole: A plot hole occurs because of a translation error.
73	* EarthDrift: Story employing real-life concepts starts diverging from those as it progresses.
74	* EveryScarHasAStory: Scars are directly related to a character's {{Backstory}}.
75	* ExiledFromContinuity: A character is restricted from appearing in an adaptation or from making further appearances in the original work, often because of legal issues.
76	* ExpansionPackPast: A character's {{Backstory}} receives more and more inconsistent details.
77	* FandomNod: The work references a common belief among the fandom.
78	* FanonDiscontinuity: When the fans choose to ignore episodes or installments of the series that they dislike.
79	* FanonWelding: Fans believe that Show X and Show Y are secretly canon to one another.
80	* FlipFlopOfGod: The creator keeps changing their mind on what they have to say about the work that isn't actually shown in it, or multiple creators have different opinions on what isn't explained within the work.
81	* {{Foreshadowing}}: The work alludes to events that will happen later in the story.
82	* ForgottenFirstMeeting: Establishing that two characters actually met each other before their assumed first meeting, they just forgot it and mistook their second meeting for their first.
83	* GodDoesNotOwnThisWorld: The creator no longer has the rights to his work or didn't have the rights in the first place.
84	* GodNeverSaidThat: Fans misinterpret something the creator said or mistakenly believe that the creator said it.
85	* HappyEndingOverride: The sequel effectively undoes a character's happy ending from a previous installment.
86	* HisStoryRepeatsItself
87	* HistoryRepeats
88	* IntercontinuityCrossover: Two ''entirely different'' continuities come together for a crossover, or two {{Alternate Continuit\|y}}ies for a {{Long Runner\|s}}.
89	* InternalHomage
90	* {{Interquel}}: An installment of the series that takes place between two previously released installments or during the events of one previously released installment.
91	* IntraFranchiseCrossover
92	* {{Jossed}}: The creator confirms a speculation to not be true.
93	* LeftHanging
94	* LegendFadesToMyth
95	* LooseCanon: An usually standalone spinoff that could very well be part of the main continuity, but its canonicity remains uncertain. In other words, optional canon.
96	* MutuallyFictional: Two works treat each other as being fictional in-universe.
97	* MyRealDaddy: A person who made the character into the form the fans prefer is more liked than the character's actual creator.
98	* MythologyGag: An adaptation makes a reference to one of the previous continuities.
99	* NegativeContinuity: Nothing sticks. Apart from the basic {{Canon}}, that is.
100	* NonSerialMovie: A television series has a movie adaptation that isn't in continuity with the TV show.
101	* NoodleIncident: The characters mention or allude to a past event that happened off-screen in a way that the audience can't really determine how or why it happened.
102	* NotAllowedToGrowUp: In spite of how long the series lasts, this character never ages.
103	* NotSoEpisodic
104	* NotTooDeadToSaveTheDay
105	* OffscreenRebuilding
106	* OneDegreeOfSeparation: Every character is unrelatedly connected to almost every other character.
107	* OrwellianRetcon: The work is modified from its original version and the creators act as if the work was always like that.
108	* OutdatedByCanon: {{Fanon}} becomes outdated due to Canon disproving it.
109	* PlotArchaeology
110	* PlotHole: There's an inconsistency in the plot preventing it from making sense.
111	* PrimeTimeline: In a {{Multiverse}} of Alternate Timelines, this is the one they're alternate ''to''.
112	* {{Prequel}}: An installment of the series that chronologically takes place before the first installment.
113	* RealAwardFictionalCharacter (if used in the CallBack[=/=]ContinuityNod form)
114	* RecursiveCanon: Establishing that a work of fiction exists as a work of fiction within its own universe.
115	* ReimaginingTheArtifact
116	* RememberTheNewGuy: A new character is introduced suddenly and treated as if they were always there.
117	* RememberWhenYouBlewUpASun
118	* ReplacementArtifact
119	* ResetButton: Resetting the story every single time.
120	* ResolvedNoodleIncident: A NoodleIncident stops being a Noodle Incident because we're finally shown the exact details of the vaguely mentioned offscreen past event.
121	* RetCanon: Elements established in an adaptation are incorporated into the canon of the source material.
122	* {{Retcon}}: Retroactive continuity. Reframing or adding to past events to serve a current plot need.
123	* {{Retconjuration}}: The power to change history for the sake of the plot.
124	* RetGone: Time travel is used to erase a character from existence in-universe.
125	* RetroactiveIdiotBall: When a later installment into the continuity makes it so the actions a character takes in an earlier installment seem unnecessary, extremely misguided, or otherwise nonsensical.
126	* RetroactiveLegacy
127	* RevealingContinuityLapse: An in-universe or otherwise intentional continuity error with significance to the story, setting, characters or the work itself.
128	* {{Revision}}: Adding new information about the story that doesn't directly contradict the established canon.
129	* RewatchBonus: Parts of the story that are more noticeable after viewing a second time.
130	* {{Rewrite}}: Changing the backstory in a way that contradicts established canon.
131	* SavedByCanon: Because the character is still alive in the other installments, it's obvious that they'll survive the events of the prequel.
132	* SchizoContinuity
133	* SchrodingersCanon: A spinoff or adaptation meant to be canonical ends up conflicting with the actual canon, so it's treated as simultaneously canon and not canon until (dis)proven otherwise.
134	* {{Sequel}}: A new installment of the series that continues the story of the previously released installment(s).
135	* SequelReset: The first story's resolution is undone for the sequel.
136	* SeriesContinuityError: The work has several blatant inconsistencies regarding canon.
137	* ShrugOfGod: The creator avoids giving a straight answer (either due to indifference or not being sure themselves) and prefers to let the audiences make their own conclusions about the unexplained details of canon.
138	* SlidingScaleOfContinuity
139	* SnapBack: Whenever an episode ends with drastic changes to the status quo or the characters in a bad situation they're not likely to get out of soon, the next episode has everything back to normal as if the previous episode didn't happen.
140	* SoapOperaRapidAgingSyndrome: A character quickly becomes older in between appearances with no explanation.
141	* SoftReboot: It's not quite a full-on ContinuityReboot, but it looks like one. However, it's still in continuity with the ''existing'' work's continuity, despite being a ''new'' universe and/or new continuity.
142	* TheStationsOfTheCanon: Anchor points that are consistent across different continuities, fanfic or official.
143	* StealthSequel: What seems like a new continuity or a completely unrelated work turns out to be a sequel or prequel to the original work partway through.
144	* StoryReset: Everything is {{Canon}} up until a certain point, then we'll do a rollback on parts we didn't like. We don't want to do a ''full'' ContinuityReboot, so this is a safer measure than a SoftReboot.
145	* TrappedByMountainLions: A subplot that occurs at the same time as the main plot but has nothing to do with it.
146	* UltimateUniverse: Modern-day retelling, but not a remake of an older work.
147	* UnexplainedRecovery: A character comes back alive and well with no explanation for their survival in spite of very clearly dying in their last appearance.
148	* UnInstallment: The series has an installment or installments that don't exist in spite of being acknowledged, mentioned, or alluded to by the work's title or within the work.
149	* {{Unreboot}}: A previous reboot is ignored in favour of a sequel to the original continuity.
150	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: A character vanishes with no mention of their final fate.
151	* WhatIf: A standalone story set in an alternate continuity where things happened differently.
152	* AWizardDidIt: An inconsistency is hand-waved as happening because of magic.
153	* WordOfDante: In the event that the creator hasn't said anything about the work, fanon is taken as the next best thing to canon.
154	* WordOfGay: The creator confirms a character to be gay or bisexual.
155	* WordOfGod: The creators or production company state what wasn't shown in the original work.
156	* WordOfSaintPaul: Details of canon not given in the work itself are revealed by someone close to the creator.
157	* WriterConflictsWithCanon: What the creator says is canon is contradictory to what is apparent in the actual work.
158	* YearZero
159	* YourSizeMayVary: There's an inconsistency regarding how large or small something or someone is.
160	* ZeerustCanon: The series sticks with its depiction of the future in spite of the predicted technology being outdated in real life.
161	[[/index]]
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Context Main / ContinuityTropes