| 1 | %% Image kept on page per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1303038731082240100 |
| 2 | %% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread. |
| 3 | [[quoteright:350: [[MediaNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/7728_4665.jpg]]]] |
| 4 | [[caption-width-right:350: [- [[Website/{{Superdickery}} His nickname is "Speedy!" What did you expect?!]]-] ]] |
| 5 | |
| 6 | ->''"We'd be watching ''Series/SavedByTheBell'', we'd be having a great old time. And then suddenly, a character we had not seen before would show up with some weed, and the episode would stop cold in its tracks!"'' |
| 7 | -->-- '''Creator/JohnMulaney''' during a segment on marijuana, ''The Comeback Kid'' |
| 8 | |
| 9 | ''[[SelfDemonstratingArticle Tonight, on a very special article of]] Website/TVTropes...'' |
| 10 | |
| 11 | An episode, often in a {{sitcom}}, in which the lead confronts some highly emotional or forbidden issue from everyday life. [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Drug abuse, eating disorders, and worse... TEENAGERS HAVING SEX!]] At the end of the episode, the protagonist is Enlightened, and the [[LongLostUncleAesop guest character]] with the Very Special Problem is never seen or heard from again. Often there is an 800 number to call, should you (or someone you love) actually have the Very Special Problem. Another key criterion is that [[SideEffectsInclude side-effects, complications,]] or [[TheBadGuyWins failure-rates]] of the official government-mandated Very Special Solution the episode promotes are never mentioned. If the problem involves children in some way (and it almost invariably ''will''), then it may also be promoted as something that "No Parent Should Miss". These often come about when [[OscarBait networks or writers are bucking for awards]], or may be caused by WriterOnBoard. |
| 12 | |
| 13 | The tone will typically be much, ''[[CerebusSyndrome much]]'' more serious than other installments of the series, although with sitcoms, there may still be a [[{{Bathos}} comedic subplot]] or occasional moments where the LaughTrack is needed. If StatusQuoIsGod is in effect, there is only a small chance of breaking with this practice, but that's the reason for the common tactic of introducing [[LongLostUncleAesop a new guest character]] who isn't protected by this consideration, and can therefore have anything bad or good happen to him without changing the status quo. |
| 14 | |
| 15 | Or, in other words: OOCIsSeriousBusiness for UsefulNotes/{{television}} shows. |
| 16 | |
| 17 | These episodes were far more common in the 1980s, fueled by then-UsefulNotes/UnitedStates president UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan's [[{{Pun}} crack]]down on drug use in America. They've largely fallen out of favor since then for most shows, due in part to the increasing number of shows, particularly dramas, where issues such as [[TheAlcoholic drug/alcohol abuse]], violence, [[SexIsEvil sex]] and [[KilledOffForReal death]] are dealt with on an almost weekly basis, and then you have the {{Dramedy}} genre that regularly mixes comedy with serious issues. |
| 18 | |
| 19 | There's a certain variety of shows where essentially ''every'' episode has a special message, such as ''Series/TouchedByAnAngel'', ''Series/JoanOfArcadia'', etc. However, it's not by any means a DeadHorseTrope yet due to {{Police Procedural}}s (i.e. ''Series/PoliceStop'', ''Series/PoliceCameraAction'', ''Series/RoadWars'') and law enforcement dramas like ''Series/CriminalMinds'' and ''Series/{{Medium}}''. |
| 20 | Medical dramas will also do these, but for ''ethical'' not medical issues. |
| 21 | |
| 22 | It is also a very ripe target for parody; these days, parodies are probably as common as seeing this {{trope}} played straight. May also be vulnerable to {{Detournement}}. |
| 23 | |
| 24 | Compare PublicServiceAnnouncement. TooSmartForStrangers (about the danger of child abduction), DrugsAreBad (about Just Saying No to them), and AntiAlcoholAesop (drinking is bad for you) are two specific kinds of Very Special Episodes that reached their zenith in [[TheEighties the 1980s]]. DescentIntoAddiction is a special case of the latter trope, in which the episode is all about a character's gradual slide into addictive behaviour. See CompressedVice for when a character is saddled with an issue for just long enough to illustrate the aesop, and LongLostUncleAesop for when a new character is introduced ''solely'' for this purpose and never seen again. An AuthorTract is when the ''entire'' work is used as an excuse to preach about a particular real world issue. GreenAesop is when the story focuses on environmental issues, but these aren't as common. Can also double as a PrejudiceAesop. |
| 25 | |
| 26 | See BizarroEpisode, ChristmasEpisode, ChristmasSpecial, HalloweenEpisode, SickEpisode, PrisonEpisode, MiniGolfEpisode, AprilFoolsPlot and ToiletTrainingPlot for other specially themed episodes. |
| 27 | |
| 28 | ---- |
| 29 | !!Examples: |
| 30 | |
| 31 | [[index]] |
| 32 | * VerySpecialEpisode/LiveActionTV |
| 33 | * VerySpecialEpisode/WesternAnimation |
| 34 | [[/index]] |
| 35 | |
| 36 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 37 | |
| 38 | [[folder:Anime and Manga]] |
| 39 | * The episode "Vomiting Point" from ''Anime/PantyAndStockingWithGarterbelt'' was extraordinarily depressing, and a satire on the pitiful, everyday lives of people living in a monotonous world, minus the main characters. The animation style is much more realistic in contrast to the show's normal ''[[WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998 Powerpuff Girls]]''-esque style, and the titular characters (who ''are'' animated in the normal style) only show up at the end for about a minute. The rest of the episode follows a very put-upon office worker as he attempts to simply do his mundane job and get his daughter a present for her birthday. The ending is at least somewhat positive, as Panty and Stocking do give him an autograph to give to her. |
| 40 | * ''Manga/HimitsuNoAkkoChan'', the original 1969 series, plays that straight with episode 32, "Kokoro to Kokoro ni uta ga aru" (A Song From the Heart to the Heart.) The eponymous heroine, a school girl, meets [[LongLostUncleAesop a new deaf/mute kid,]] and, wishing to know more about his plight, she wishes to the spirit dwelling in her pocket mirror to make her deaf/mute as well. Upon a brief showcase of all the challenges her new altered state forces her to face, Akko-chan asks the magic mirror to be changed back... only to be mystically informed that, since she was enough impulsive to stress over the "mute" part of the ailment, and the mirror works only by vocal commands, she's going to be disabled for the rest of her life. [[ResetButton Reality fixes itself shortly before the final scene.]] Apparently, the magic mirror could have restored Akko-chan's voice and hearing as soon as she asked the first time, but it was simply proving its point, stating that Akko-chan got her Aesop all wrong: instead of feeling compassion for her new friend, she should have thought of how he's brave enough to get on with his condition without breaking down as she just did. |
| 41 | * ''Anime/OjamajoDoremi'': |
| 42 | ** In a Very Special Story Arc of ''Motto! Ojamajo Doremi'', the eponymous [[CuteWitch elementary school witches]] have to help Kayoko, a little girl pushed on the brink of depression by the inherent competitive Japanese school system. [[TheWoobie Feeling inadequate, mercilessly bullied, teased by her peers, ignored by the teachers and witnessing her parents always arguing for her school problems,]] Kayoko starts to exhibit psychosomatic reactions (aka throwing up in fear) whenever she approaches school, ultimately choosing to become an hikikomori. The witches just decide, without any use of their powers, to be Kayoko's helping hand, going so far to offer their own hats for... Kayoko's use and offering their friendship to ease her feeling of inadequacy and loneliness. |
| 43 | ** Episode 12 of the 2004 [=OVA=] series ''Ojamajo Doremi Na-i-sho'' titled "The Seventh Witch Appears: Non-chan's Secret" [[TheTopicOfCancer tackles cancer]] (which is a taboo subject matter in Japan) and terminal illness. The episode involves Doremi befriending a cancer patient named Nozomi Waku whom she encounters while cheering up sick or critically ill children at a children's hospital. She learns that Nozomi has a big fascination of witches and owns tons of witch related books at her hospital room. As Nozomi struggles to overcome cancer (while never named in the episode, Nozomi is suffering leukemia), she tells Doremi that she wishes to become an actual witch someday. One night, Doremi surprises her by showing their witch forms at bedtime and temporarily makes her a witch. The next evening, Doremi witnesses Nozomi struggling to breath showing signs that her friend is losing her battle. A day later, Nozomi's mother reveals to Doremi that her daughter has passed away early that morning and gives Doremi back a card that she gave Nozomi to make her a magical witch. Nozomi's mother and Doremi decide to have a playful snowball fight in her memory which reduces them to [[CryLaughing happily crying]] (while Doremi's witch friends are silently watching on). [[BittersweetEnding The episode ends]] with Genki (another cancer patient from the same hospital) visiting Doremi and her friends witch headquarters to reveal that he's been discharged from the hospital. The titular character responds to the news by immediately running up to Genki to give him a big hug as she openly cries not only out of grief from Nozomi's passing, but from relief knowing Genki won't suffer the same fate as her deceased friend. |
| 44 | * ''Anime/ShimaShimaToraNoShimajiro'' has 3 episodes teaching kids about [[ToiletTrainingPlot potty-training]]. The first episode was the [[MemeticMutation memetic]] "If You Can Use The Toilet, You're A Pantsman" episode, the second was about public restrooms, and the third had a superhero named "Pants Man" in it, who's an anthromorphic kangaroo. |
| 45 | * If potty-training episodes count, Pants Pankuro and Panpaka Pants are two other anime with these sorts of episodes, as well as the Franchise/HelloKitty and [[PreciousPuppy Cinnamoroll]] educational shorts by Creator/{{Sanrio}} that were released in TheNineties and 2008 in Japan. |
| 46 | * This is pretty much half of ''Manga/TheKurosagiCorpseDeliveryService''. Underneath the standard splatter horror and the occasional storyline devoted entirely to {{squick}}, the manga explores such diverse topics as abortion, suicide, the death penalty, the economic crisis, treatment of the elderly, burial culture, and Japan's actions during WWII that have been repressed by the public. |
| 47 | * ''Anime/YokaiWatch'' has [[http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6HuHD0AGhWs a web-exclusive episode]] on eye safety featuring Baddinyan trying to get Nate and Whisper to do bad things to their eyes. |
| 48 | * Being that one of the overarching themes of ''Anime/HugttoPrettyCure'' is "You can be anything! You can do anything!", they've done several of these episodes throughout the show: |
| 49 | ** Episode 19 had a subplot involving Henri Wakamiya, a boy who wants to participate in a fashion show and wear girl's clothing, but he's always ignored by others and made fun of, even though he thinks putting restrictions on your own heart is a waste of time. Later during the episode's battle sequence, after making a comment where he's worried that he's in the role of a princess, Cure Yell tells him that anyone, regardless of gender, can dress whichever way they want. |
| 50 | ** Episode 28 focuses on Homare's pet dog [[InterspeciesRomance falling in love with a cat]] and Ruru, who is an android, [[HaveYouTriedNotBeingAMonster thinking]] [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything it's wrong]]. Emiru then teaches her that you can love anyone [[GayAesop regardless of their species]]. |
| 51 | ** Episode 35 focuses on a little girl named Aya, whose mother thinks that getting a C-section is unsafe. Saaya and the nurses teach the mother that they have many benefits. |
| 52 | * ''Manga/BottleFairy'''s eighth episode teaches the fairies about the cycle of life through a flower they helped raise, Hananan. While they initially want to have it live forever, they realize if it does it won't be able to sprout seeds to help new flowers grow next year. |
| 53 | * ''Creator/{{Toonami}}'' addresses UsefulNotes/BlackLivesMatter in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHfJiZTtGEA one of TOM's advice speeches]]. |
| 54 | * ''Anime/PokemonTheSeriesSunAndMoon'' has two episodes that focus on the death of a loved one and the FiveStagesOfGrief, a surprising tone shift from this arc of the anime. |
| 55 | * There is a two-part special episode of ''Anime/TamaAndFriends: Do You Know my Tama?'' in which a curse is put upon the people and animals of the third district regarding a little girl and her dog Shiro, who tragically ended up being two of the 129,000-226,000 casualties of the [[UsefulNotes/AtomicBombingsOfHiroshimaAndNagasaki Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings]] that took place during the climactic final months of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII and caused horrific devastation. Tama's owner Takeshi has nightmares about her in the [[Literature/AChristmasCarol Christmas Carol]]-type first part. The girl's ghost even holds Tama hostage and threatens to kill him. |
| 56 | ** In the episode's second part, Tama's best friend Pochi is possessed by a haunted collar, which belonged to Shiro before he and his owner were killed in the bombings. Shiro is revealed to be a [[SurprisinglyCreepyMoment really terrifying-looking]] ghost dog once the collar is taken off of Pochi by Takeshi - essentially exhausting the former and luckily (do to his cowardly personality) causing him not to be able to see it. Thankfully, his ghost owner changes him back to the kind of loving dog he was when he was alive and apologizes for all the trouble they caused. |
| 57 | ** Although this take on one of the events that ended the Second World War was much tamer compared to the more graphic and nightmare-inducing ''Barefoot Gen'' (which depicts these terrifying events in more detail), you can see why 4Kids decided to skip the episode due to it being inspired by such a nightmarish true event. |
| 58 | [[/folder]] |
| 59 | |
| 60 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 61 | * Website/{{Cracked}} has an article called [[http://www.cracked.com/article_19105_6-comics-that-covered-serious-issues-failed-hilariously.html "6 Comics That Covered Serious Issues And Failed Hilariously."]] As is probably quite apparent from the title, the article explores the FridgeLogic and {{Narm}} of some of these attempts at Very Special Episodes. Also, [[http://www.cracked.com/article_19983_the-6-most-baffling-psas-starring-famous-superheroes.html The 6 Most Baffling PSAs Starring Famous Superheroes]] (though one is from ''WesternAnimation/{{Captain Planet|AndThePlaneteers}}'' and another from the [[Series/Batman1966 1960s Batman show).]] |
| 62 | * ''ComicBook/Superboy1949'' #171 features a team-up with Superboy and the future ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} in an issue about the dangers oil and other pollutants can cause to sea life. Aquaboy's life is endangered when the oil companies are too concerned with profit to change their ways, and while he and Superboy manage to stop ''one'' company from poisoning any further, sea creatures died and they still have a long way to go before the oceans are safe. |
| 63 | * 1971 was a watershed year for Very Special Episodes in comics, thanks to [[Creator/MarvelComics Marvel]] and [[Creator/DCComics DC]] publishing two such stories in short order. It also had a major impact on MediaNotes/TheComicsCode. |
| 64 | ** ComicBook/SpiderMan came first, and this story became known for being one of the better Very Special Episodes. Creator/StanLee was asked to write a very special episode about drugs by the government, and, instead of creating a LongLostUncleAesop to focus the story on, he chose to use an existing character, with bonus points for being a rich white male with known emotional issues. The Comics Code Authority then [[IdiotBall refused to approve the comic,]] so Lee sent ''ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderMan1963'' #96-98 to press without the CCA stamp. Though the Authority would continue for four more decades, it would never be the same. |
| 65 | ** The month after ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #98 was published, DC published ''ComicBook/GreenLantern[=/=]ComicBook/GreenArrow'' #85 (pictured at the top of the page), which introduced a heroin addiction for [[MediaNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] Speedy Roy Harper. By this time, the CCA, having endured a backlash against them for refusing to approve the Spidey story, revised their standards to allow the Speedy story to be approved. |
| 66 | * Roy Harper, who would later be known as Arsenal and later still as Red Arrow, became a Very Special Character for much of his career due to that story-line. And while the original story was not especially {{Narm}}ful, many of the later ones which mentioned his drug abuse were. |
| 67 | ** His drug abuse is still part of his character like when Speedy lectured Characters/{{Nightwing|DickGrayson}} in a very holier-than-thou way in one comic, Nightwing sneered that he was [[AdHominem getting advice from a heroin addict.]] |
| 68 | *** It's even more a part of his character after ''The Rise of Arsenal'', where Roy had a HeroicBSOD following the death of the daughter. Not only did he get back on heroin, he's alienated most of his friends and family, readopted the Arsenal identity and become a CardCarryingVillain. Considering his remaining friends and family didn't provide much support following Lian's death and the loss of his right arm, it's not that surprising. |
| 69 | ** Treads into [[BrokenAesop awkward territory]] when his mentor, ComicBook/GreenArrow, punched him and threw him out of the house for being a filthy junkie. Though Green Arrow learned later in the story-line how wrong he was, he never apologized for his behavior. When Speedy tells him off for this, Green Arrow weeps silently... in pride for his ward becoming a man. |
| 70 | * Most of the other ComicBook/GreenLantern/ComicBook/GreenArrow comics written by Dennis O'Neil may qualify as Very Special Episodes and not just the one where it is revealed that Speedy was a heroin addict. For instance, the issue that introduced John Stewart had Hal Jordan ([[AudienceSurrogate and by extension, the audience]]) learning a lesson about police harassment and institutional racism. |
| 71 | * MediaNotes/{{The Modern Age|OfComicBooks}} Speedy, Mia Dearden, got her own Very Special Issue where it was discovered that she was HIV Positive. This issue was written by Creator/JuddWinick, who seems to have a thing for Very Special moments involving AIDS and gay characters, given how a close friend of his who was gay died from complications relating to HIV. |
| 72 | * Creator/JuddWinick also penned a very special issue with ComicBook/GreenLantern Kyle Rayner's assistant getting beaten up for his sexual orientation. Judd was the one who introduced the character and built up the homosexuality angle prior to this with a less {{Anvilicious}} issue, where Kyle discovered the assistant had a crush on him. Kyle Rayner's Green Lantern series wasn't entirely free of this before Creator/JuddWinick, with Ron Marz penning issues on alcoholism, racism, and hate crimes against lesbians. |
| 73 | * There's a Very Special ''Issue'' of the ''ComicBook/{{Robin|1993}}'' comic book, wherein Tim Drake [[TalkingDownTheSuicidal talks a kid down from jumping off the roof]]; it fits well in the story, as Robin himself had recently lost everyone he ever knew. It even came complete with a teen suicide hotline at the end of the issue. Another involves a classmate of Tim's being killed by another who brings a gun to school, which ended up having repercussions in future issues. |
| 74 | * One of the most infamous of these stories was the ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'' 'Drug Awareness issue' mentioned in PietaPlagiarism. And holding the victim was Speedy himself. Though this book is also infamous for its CaptainErsatz of Robin, the Protector, due to rights issues (the book was sponsored by a cookie company, but one that didn't have the licensing rights to Robin). |
| 75 | * Coming back to [[Characters/MarvelComicsPeterParker Spider-Man]], he has been a very popular character for very special episodes, selected {{narm}}filled issues shows our hero: |
| 76 | ** Saving a young boy from being molested by his female babysitter [[http://www.misterkitty.org/extras/stupidcovers/superhero2.jpg by telling the tale about how he was molested as a kid by an adult friend named "Skip Wescott", who had an uncanny resemble to Uncle Ben]]. |
| 77 | ** Foiling a plot to [[http://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/1333192.html inflict the youth of America with teen pregnancy by giving advice about sexuality]]. |
| 78 | ** Saving a stoner from jumping off a building. This mess was actually paid for with tax dollars, mind you. |
| 79 | ** Teamed with [[Characters/MarvelComicsStorm Storm]] and Characters/LukeCage to combat Smokescreen. [[http://atopthefourthwall.com/spider-man-storm-and-cage/ Guess what this one is about]]. |
| 80 | ** Stopped a Canadian drug ring in a story by Creator/DwayneMcDuffie (NOT Creator/ToddMcfarlane, though he did one of the covers). Naturally, they just had to be smuggling their drugs in hockey pucks. |
| 81 | ** All these various issues would later be collected in a TPB "Spider-Man vs. Substance Abuse". |
| 82 | ** Creator/JMichaelStraczynski's [[ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderManJMichaelStraczynski run]] had quite a few of those, through a lot of time the serious issues like bullying or school shooting were organic parts of the plot. Some of the straighter examples would be an issue in which Peter tries to help one of his students who has junkie brother [[spoiler: and turns out they're both homeless]] (and in a subversion of a general rule this issue opens a longer story arc and the girl is one of the central characters of it). The straightest example however would be an issue about 9/11 and it's still considered one of the better written comics about that tragedy. |
| 83 | ** And finally, coming back to the subject of the original ''Amazing Spider-Man'' storyline, Harry Osborn's drug history would actually lead him to follow in [[Characters/MarvelComicsNormanOsborn his father]]'s footsteps and become [[LegacyCharacter the second Green Goblin]]. |
| 84 | * ''ComicBook/NewMutants'' [[http://www.supermegamonkey.net/chronocomic/entries/new_mutants_45.shtml issue #45]] was all about a new kid named Larry who was secretly a {{mutant|s}}. His classmates started teasing him about it (not knowing he really ''was'' a mutant) and stuck a flyer under his door that said "X-Factor [the mutant hunting team] is coming for you!" That freaked him out so badly that he ended up committing suicide. And the whole thing ends with a [[CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot We Could Have Avoided This]] speech from [[Characters/MarvelComicsKittyPryde Kitty Pryde]] about name-calling. Fortunately, it's so well-written that it's not really that {{Narm}}y. [[TearJerker No, indeed.]] |
| 85 | * In the final story of ''Archie's Clean Slate'', one of the licensed Christian religious ''ComicBook/{{Archie|Comics}}'' comics created by Al Hartley for Spire Comics, a friend of Archie (never seen or heard of before) gets into a drunk driving accident and experiences a spiritual reawakening. |
| 86 | * ''[[ComicBook/TheSandman1989 Death talks about life]]'' was a giveaway special produced by Creator/VertigoComics at the height of the AIDS epidemic. [[http://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/295605.html#cutid1 It]] features Death [[BreakingTheFourthWall directly addressing the reader]] about AIDS and sex related issues, and is probably the single most {{Anvilicious}} comic not written by [[ComicBook/ChickTracts Jack Chick]]. It's also probably the best {{Anvilicious}} comic of all time, as it makes up for its {{anvilicious}}ness by featuring a scene in which [[Characters/HellblazerJohnConstantine John Constantine]] holds a banana while Death rolls a condom onto it. The AIDS epidemic was also a bit of a running motif in ''ComicBook/TheSandman1989'' itself, although never to the extent of having entire issues based around it. |
| 87 | * ''ComicBook/SpiderGirl'' issue #89, all about May's friend Sandra, who was being abused by her (now ex) boyfriend. Slight subversion in that it was the culmination of a long subplot and the abused character stuck around, but otherwise a textbook example. |
| 88 | * Creator/PeterDavid did quite a few of these in ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' and ''ComicBook/YoungJustice''. In the former, he dealt with AIDS and abortion; in the latter he dealt with gun control and 9/11. |
| 89 | * ''[[https://www.retrojunk.com/article/show/376/the-xmen-in-heroes-for-hope Heroes For Hope]]'', published in 1985, was a special one-shot starring the ComicBook/XMen and written and drawn by dozens of notable comic book and genre fiction creators (conceived as sort of a comic book version of ''We Are the World''), in which [[Creator/MarvelComics Marvel's]] mutant heroes confront famine in Africa (and an ancient demon that feeds on the despair it causes). Proceeds from the book were donated to famine relief. |
| 90 | * DC got it on it at about the same time, producing ''Heroes Against Hunger'' where Characters/{{Superman|TheCharacter}} discovers [[PowerfulAndHelpless his powers are useless against famine.]] |
| 91 | * ''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}: The Power of Hope'' is the comic book equivalent of a Very Special Episode. Penned by Creator/PaulDini and drawn by Creator/AlexRoss, it mostly deals with Captain Marvel being sent on an errand to find a ''hopeless boy'' and bring him hope. Captain Marvel spends his free time in a child ward of the local hospital, dealing with terminally ill kids and various other ''hopeless cases''. Only after helping the seemingly most hopeless kid of the bunch, in a TwistEnding moment, [[spoiler: Captain Marvel is made aware that the ''hopeless boy'' was none other than Billy Batson, his alter ego, feeling doubts about his capacity to bring hope and needing to be confronted with the tragedies of human life and innocence of other kids]]. |
| 92 | * Around Creator/ECComics, these kinds of stories were called "E.C. Preachies." One of the best known of these was "Judgment Day", which featured a representative of TheRepublic travelling to a planet of robots that segregates between functionally identical blue and orange robots, with one of them having [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything having significantly worse facilities and less rights]] than the other and ultimately deciding not to admit them to the republic. The representative then takes his helmet off on the way back home, [[TheReveal revealing]] him to be a black man. Notably, a reprint of the pre-Code story was denied approval by administrator Judge Charles Murphy, simply because of the aforementioned reveal. Editor William Gaines and writer Al Feldstein threatened the CCA with a lawsuit, after which Murphy asked them to remove the sweat from the protagonist's face in the last panel. Gaines and Feldstein's response was a literal "fuck you" and the story would be reprinted without Code approval in the very last comic EC ever published before shifting focus to ''Magazine/{{MAD}}''. |
| 93 | ** EC's post-Code "New Direction" titles like ''M.D.'' and ''Psychoanalysis'' were pretty much anthologies of these, being much more overt when it came to moralizing and social instruction while still retaining the old format; readers predictably didn't go for it. Decades later, the story "Master Race" from ''Impact'' #1 would receive acclaim among comics scholars for being one of the first stories published after the war to include a stark, factual depiction of the Holocaust, as well as Bernie Krigstein's haunting artwork. |
| 94 | * ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'': ''[[http://atopthefourthwall.com/captain-america-goes-to-war-against-drugs/ Captain America Goes To War On Drugs]]'' features Cap fighting ''drug dealing aliens'', and then later, a team of villains that are actually powered by drugs by the aforementioned alien drug dealers. The "Streets of Poison" story-line in his main book had Cap taking on a drug ring after discovering that Avengers support staffer Fabian Stankiewicz had been taking a new type of illegal drug. Cap would be caught in a warehouse explosion that caused him to inadvertently inhale a substantial amount of said drug, which would interact badly with his Super-Soldier Serum, eventually forcing Cap to have to receive a complete transfusion of ordinary blood. Fabian had even called Cap out on the Serum, pointing out that he had basically benefited from a type of drug, and this caused Steve not to want to get his old blood back after it had been purged of the drug. Though that point would become moot, as the cells in his body basically regenerated the Serum into his bloodstream anyway. |
| 95 | * ''ComicBook/AssociatedStudentBodies'' is for the most part a light-hearted ComingOfAgeStory about a young man discovering his sexuality at college. That said, there are two plots that are PlayedForDrama, the first being when Daniel is attacked by homophobic classmates. The second involves Daniel coming out to his conservative family, which causes alienation between them that isn't resolved for several issues. |
| 96 | * ''ComicBook/{{Muties}}'' was basically a mini-series of Very Special Issues, each one telling a story about a young mutant for whom mutant powers are the least of their problems. One was a child soldier in Africa, another was a pregnant bisexual girl from UsefulNotes/{{Brazil}}, another was an autistic Japanese boy with an abusive stepfather, etc. Almost every issue ended tragically, suggesting that there were some problems that even mutant powers couldn't solve. |
| 97 | * ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' had a 2-part story about domestic abuse in the early 90's called ''ComicBook/CrisisAtHand'', deconstructing the days when Supes was a WifeBasherBasher from the early Golden Age comics, showing that early in his career when he once attempted to scare a man from beating his wife, only to later learn it failed and the man later ''killed'' her the next time he got violent; in the present day when he learns that one of his neighbors is the victim of abuse, Clark tries to find a way to help her without setting her husband off worse. Considered one of the better cases of a "very special issue" and was actually brought up a few times afterward in the Superman books. |
| 98 | * Issues #4-5 of the second volume of ''ComicBook/TheUnstoppableWasp'', in which Nadia has her first serious manic episode, come across very much as a didactic YA story about mental illness. However, as the essay at the end of #5 points out, superhero comics traditionally haven't been known for their [[InsaneEqualsViolent accuracy]] or [[{{Idiosyncrazy}} sensitivity]] when dealing with the subject. |
| 99 | * ''ComicBook/WonderWomanTheOnceAndFutureStory'' is focused on domestic violence victims being able to get the support they need to escape their abusers but having to want to leave themselves being the first step as trying to force the issue will just alienate them from the one trying to force help on them. The story ends with a page with a few paragraphs on the topic and a list of numbers for various support groups and domestic violence hotlines. |
| 100 | [[/folder]] |
| 101 | |
| 102 | [[folder:Comic Strips]] |
| 103 | * ''ComicStrip/FoxTrot'': |
| 104 | ** A lot of early story-lines had these (for example, Peter taking up chewing tobacco; Paige and Jason finding a used syringe at the beach; Paige and Nicole considering shoplifting). But after a while the strip focused almost exclusively on the RuleOfFunny, although there were a couple of exceptions. |
| 105 | ** Also notable was the post-9/11 storyline in which Roger, who is afraid of needles, decides to donate blood. These storylines are impossible now that the strip is Sunday-only. |
| 106 | * ''ComicStrip/FunkyWinkerbean'': |
| 107 | ** Once {{story arc}}s were used in lieu of [[RuleOfFunny the former "gag a day" storylines,]] many of the arcs had "very special" themes. The first came in 1988, when a teenager named Lisa became pregnant during her senior year of high school, and only nerdy Les was willing to support her (Lisa also being an outcast, although not to the same extent as Les). Many other serious themes were employed, with the most notable recurring during much of the 2000s when Lisa- by now, married to Les- developing (and ultimately dying from) breast cancer. |
| 108 | ** Other "very special problems" various cast members have had to deal with included UsefulNotes/{{abuse}} (child and teen dating), alcoholism, war-related issues (including prisoners of war, land mines and post-traumatic stress disorder), pornography, juvenile fire setting and so forth. While lighter stories have continued in the strip, the dramatic stories have taken precedence. |
| 109 | * Parodied in [[http://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2005/01/23 this]] ''ComicStrip/PearlsBeforeSwine'' strip, where Rat's head explodes. It ends advertising "A Very Special SundayStrip": ''Coping With The Death Of An Unloved One'' [[http://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2005/01/30 Guess what ran next week?]] |
| 110 | * ''ComicStrip/BabyBlues'' did the one where Wanda confronts a mother who [[CorporalPunishment struck her child in public]]. |
| 111 | * ''ComicStrip/ForBetterOrForWorse'' did a number of strips like this. Just to name a few: |
| 112 | ** Lawrence admitting that he's gay. |
| 113 | ** Farley dying from a heart attack after saving April from drowning in a river. |
| 114 | ** The death of Elly's mother. |
| 115 | ** Jeremy Jones, the boy who had been bullying April, getting hit by a car. |
| 116 | ** April's pet rabbit, Mr. B, dying in her arms. |
| 117 | ** Elizabeth being sexually assaulted by a co-worker. |
| 118 | ** Grandpa Jim suffering from a stroke. |
| 119 | ** Michael and Deanna's apartment being destroyed by a fire. |
| 120 | * ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'': |
| 121 | ** In one [[http://blogondeathanddying.blogspot.com/2012/06/raccoon-story-calvin-hobbes.html storyline]] Calvin found a sick baby raccoon and had his parents try to save it. Unfortunately the little raccoon passes away and Calvin learns about how [[DeathIsASadThing "death is as natural as birth"]] and we have to move on even when we don't understand things. A [[http://i.imgur.com/Pbap0sm.jpg later Sunday strip]] also looked at the nature of death, with practically no joke, just philosophy. |
| 122 | ** Another story was about [[http://jetpacksunrise.tumblr.com/post/71960037951/the-break-in-story-part-1 Calvin's house being broken into]] [[http://jetpacksunrise.tumblr.com/post/72199972800/calvin-and-hobbes-the-break-in-story-part-2 while the family was away.]] While Calvin is more focused on making sure Hobbes is okay and later mourning his stolen television, his parents struggle with the trauma and fear of knowing they aren't safe in their own house. |
| 123 | [[/folder]] |
| 124 | |
| 125 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 126 | * In ''Fanfic/MegaManDefenderOfTheHumanRace'', a secondary arc of Episode 7 involves Lynn finally dealing with her brother Castor's severe drug abuse, with some helpful advice from Mega Man. Castor is seen suffering drug withdrawals and is reluctant to recover. But, in the end, Castor breaks down in his sister's arms and finally agrees to seek treatment. |
| 127 | * ''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/96270/harpflank-and-sweets-a-very-special-episode Harpflank and Sweets: A Very Special Episode]]'' demonstrates the effect this trope can have on characters when it's applied without buildup. |
| 128 | * ''Fanfic/{{Hivefled}}''; Sennir briefly breaks the fourth wall in a question-and-answer session to tell readers that death was not a reasonable price to pay for [[spoiler:[[UsefulNotes/{{Transgender}} gaining a body which fit his gender]]]], and assures them help is available. |
| 129 | * Several chapters of ''Fanfic/FalloutEquestria'' are devoted to TheHero Littlepip trying to kick an addiction to mind-enhancing drugs. |
| 130 | * ''Fanfic/MortalMan'' is a ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' fanfiction the plays out like one of these, being a somewhat OriginalFlavor fanfic that depicts [=SpongeBob=] working through the grief of his favorite superhero, Mermaid Man, passing away from old age. |
| 131 | [[/folder]] |
| 132 | |
| 133 | [[folder:Films — Live-Action]] |
| 134 | * Creator/ChristopherReeve only agreed to do another ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' film if it contained a clear anti-nuclear message. And so ''Film/SupermanIVTheQuestForPeace'' and its ridiculously hamfisted villain Nuclear Man were born. |
| 135 | * One ad among the many commercials in ''Film/WNUFHalloweenSpecial'' is for a "very special episode" of a {{sitcom}}, where the [[CoolUncle fun uncle character]] has a drinking problem. |
| 136 | * In the short film ''Film/CacaMilis'', Paul proudly tells [[HatesSmallTalk Catherine]] that when he was a little boy, he had been invited to appear on a radio program because in addition to being blind, he had a very severe form of asthma ("the worst case they'd seen"). |
| 137 | [[/folder]] |
| 138 | |
| 139 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 140 | * ''Literature/TheBabySittersClub'' series had Very Special Books dealing with different topics. Most involved characters that had [[LongLostUncleAesop never been mentioned before]] and some ended with information about related support groups, such as Students Against Drunk Driving. Topics included drunk driving, dealing with death, anorexia, scoliosis, parental abuse, racism, and UsefulNotes/{{homelessness}}. |
| 141 | * ''Literature/TheBerenstainBears'': |
| 142 | ** ''Trouble With Strangers'' includes "Brother And Sister Bear's Rules For Strangers" on the last page. The rest of the book isn't heavy-handed, though, and sends the message that "most strangers aren't bad, but you should be careful just in case." |
| 143 | ** This [[http://www.toplessrobot.com/2008/12/the_8_most_awkward_berenstain_bears_books.php# article]] lists the "8 Most Awkward Berenstain Bears Books". Six of the eight could be classified as this trope. Namely bullying, Internet addiction, too much junk food, [[TheTalk birds and the bees,]] guns, and racism. |
| 144 | * ''Literature/SweetValleyHigh'' ventured into this trope with several books that covered steroid abuse, anorexia, teen gambling, dating violence, that typically featured secondary characters or one-off characters who had the Very Special Problem and they were never mentioned again. However, the one book that even the most casual reader of the series will remember was #40: On The Edge. [[spoiler: Regina Morrow, heartbroken over her breakup from Bruce Patman, goes to a party with a boy she recently met (and he is never mentioned again beyond book 41) tries cocaine, and dies almost immediately.]] |
| 145 | * Creator/RosemaryWells, well-known for her [[WorldOfFunnyAnimals animal-based]] books such as ''Literature/MaxAndRuby'', wrote a book called {{Literature/Yoko}} in 1998 which deals with racism and prejudice. The book is about a [[CuteKitten young kitten named Yoko]] who is Japanese. In the book, she's getting ready for her first day at school and everything goes fine. Until lunchtime, when Yoko reveals that she's having sushi for lunch, and every student in the school (except for Timothy) makes fun of her for it. This results in Yoko feeling very hurt and is later discovered crying by Miss Jenkins when class is over for the day. This being a children's book, they all accept her in the end. This made it into an episode of the ''Literature/TimothyGoesToSchool'' AnimatedAdaptation. |
| 146 | ** There's also the Yoko book "Yoko Writers Her Name" from 2008, which deals with similar themes but also briefly touches upon the language barrier. Yoko realizes that she can't write English words and mostly writes in Japanese letters. The cat duo Sylvia and Olive make fun of Yoko and her Japanese lifestyle, making her so upset that she refuses to eat her favorite food (sushi) when she returns home. |
| 147 | * Creator/JacquelineWilson has written several books based around an issue that readers might face: ''Literature/TheStoryOfTracyBeaker'' (living in care), ''The Suitcase Kid'' (divorced parents), ''Vicky Angel'' (bereavement), ''Love Lessons'' (TeacherStudentRomance), ''Lily Alone'' (ParentalNeglect), ''Clean Break'' (what happens when a parent walks out on the family), ''Bad Girls'' (the effects of bullying), ''The Bed and Breakfast Star'' (the stress of living in temporary housing), ''Falling Apart'' (suicide), ''Girls Under Pressure'' (eating disorders), ''Literature/{{Katy}}'' (learning to cope with disability), ''Love, Frankie'' (coming out as a lesbian) and more. |
| 148 | * The ''Literature/{{Miffy}}'' books are usually lighthearted and cute, however, in 1996 a book entitled "Dear Grandma Bunny" was released, which deals with Miffy learning about her grandmother's death. The book is actually recommended by bereavement organisations as a way of helping to explain the death of a loved one to young children. Another book notably more sombre than others in the series involved Miffy shoplifting and having to deal with the consequences. |
| 149 | * ''Literature/RoysBedoys'': “Stay at Home, Roys Bedoys!”, “Distance Learning Has Rules, Roys Bedoys!”, and “Distance Learning is Not Always Fun, Roys Bedoys!” were written in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and involve the characters having to stay at home. |
| 150 | [[/folder]] |
| 151 | |
| 152 | [[folder:Music]] |
| 153 | * Music/SoulAsylum's {{Music Video|Tropes}} for "Runaway Train" was interspersed with photos of missing children and ended with a phone number to call if the viewer had seen any of them. [[ShaggyDogStory In unfortunate twists]], it was eventually revealed that some of the now-adults shown in the video didn't ''want'' to be found, and at least one of them was a victim of abuse by the same AbusiveParents who sent the photo. Worse, a little girl shown in the original video had been [[OffingTheOffspring murdered by her mother]] and buried in her backyard as the corollary of her parents' bitter divorce. |
| 154 | * The music video for Music/SarahMcLachlan's "World on Fire" claims she was given $150,000 by the record company to film it. Interspersed between footage of [=McLachlan=] barefoot singing and playing the guitar, the video mentions it was filmed for only $15 and the rest was donated to a variety of charities all around the world. |
| 155 | * Music/{{Megadeth}}'s "99 Ways to Die" music video shows small children and infants carrying around guns, statistics for gun violence against youth and pictures of children that were killed, paralyzed or shot. |
| 156 | * Music/{{Moist}}'s video for "Believe Me" depicted Biff Naked and her friend Violet moping around the [[DownLADrain Los Angeles River]] and giving each other FTW tattoos and later Violet somehow drowns herself in said nasty river. It's kind of confusing, really. Anyway, the video does end with the number for the Kids Help Phone. |
| 157 | * Music/MichaelJackson's video for the huge GreenAesop that was "Earth Song" ended with the phone number for his Heal the World charity organization. On the ''[=HIStory=] on Film: Volume II'' compilation, there was also a text scroll detailing the locations the video was shot in and how "man and his technology" had ravaged them. |
| 158 | * Music/{{Motorhead}} released a song called "Don't Let Daddy Kiss Me" which touches upon incest. |
| 159 | * Music/OzzyOsbourne has a song of his ''No More Tears'' album called "Mr. Tinkertrain", which is about pedophilia. Ultimately subverted in that the titular pedophile winds up being a KarmaHoudini. |
| 160 | * Martina [=McBride=] has a few: |
| 161 | ** "Independence Day" is about domestic violence. |
| 162 | ** "Concrete Angel" is about child abuse. |
| 163 | ** "I'm Gonna Love You Through It" is about breast cancer. |
| 164 | ** "Cheap Whiskey" is about drunk driving and alcoholism. |
| 165 | * Music/SimplePlan has "Untitled [How Could this Happen to Me?]," a song which describes a car accident victim's last moments after a crash with a drunk driver. The music video shows loved ones' worlds literally crashing in and was produced in cooperation with Mothers Against Drunk Driving. |
| 166 | * Music/FallOutBoy recorded their video for "I'm Like a Lawyer...(Me & You)" in UsefulNotes/{{Africa}}, centering around a love story between two young teens, along with shots of the band playing in a field and a group of locals watching, laughing and dancing with the video for "Dance, Dance." The boy is kidnapped to be part of an army; at the end, text is displayed with statistics about child soldiers in Uganda and information about Invisible Children, Inc., an organization helping kids who are forced into war. |
| 167 | * Music/BoardsOfCanada's ''Music/MusicHasTheRightToChildren'' concludes with "One Very Important Thought", a short spoken message about the importance of freedom of speech. It's far less {{narm}}y than it sounds. |
| 168 | * "Hell Is For Children" by Music/PatBenatar deals with child abuse. |
| 169 | * "No Man's Land" by Music/TanyaTucker deals with rape trauma syndrome by telling the story of rape victim Molly Marlowe who will have no man after her rape. |
| 170 | * Music/FosterThePeople's "Pumped Up Kicks" serves as one; frontman Mark Foster stated that the purpose of the song was to raise awareness of and provide a platform to talk about gun violence among youth, particularly with regard to the factors that drive young people to violence. |
| 171 | * The music video for the song "Stress" by the French group Music/{{Justice|Band}} deals with the violence associated with young inhabitants of ''banlieues'' or slums of major French cities, particularly those from North African immigrant backgrounds. The video was directed by Romain Gavras, co-founder of the Kourtrajmé collective, whose members were, for the most part, born in ''banlieues''. |
| 172 | * Music/{{Disturbed}}'s music video for "Inside the Fire" deals with UsefulNotes/{{suicide}}, with lead singer David Draiman plugging the National Suicide Prevention Hotline before the start of the video. |
| 173 | [[/folder]] |
| 174 | |
| 175 | [[folder:Pro Wrestling]] |
| 176 | * Although by its very nature professional wrestling does not have "very special problem" plots in the vein of most sitcoms and such, Wrestling/{{WWE}} has aired very different types of "Very Special Episodes," most notably after the death of a prominent current member of its roster or after a notably tragic event. Current storylines will be dropped, and wrestlers will be invited to do [[RealLife "out-of-character"]] tributes to their fallen comrade. The most famous "death" examples were tribute shows aired for Wrestling/OwenHart (who was killed after a stunt gone horribly wrong), Wrestling/EddieGuerrero, and Wrestling/ChrisBenoit (aired live, before the details of his murders of his wife and son, and his suicide became definitively known). WWE also aired a show ''two'' days after the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington, as a salute to victims killed in the terrorist attacks. |
| 177 | * WWE has also held events and specials known as the "Tribute to the Troops"--usually aired during the holiday season--as a salute to the U.S. armed forces. The specials were initially held at U.S. military bases in Afghanistan or Iraq. From 2003 to 2007, the Tribute to the Troops aired as a Very Special Episode of either ''Wrestling/WWERaw'' or ''Wrestling/WWESmackDown'' (usually on or around Christmas), but beginning in 2009 it became a standalone special. Since 2010, they have been held at either a military base in the United States, or in a city near major military bases |
| 178 | [[/folder]] |
| 179 | |
| 180 | [[folder:Puppet Shows]] |
| 181 | * ''Series/{{Dinosaurs}}'': |
| 182 | ** The ending PSA about the Very Special Problem was parodied in "A New Leaf", when Robbie and his friend, Spike, find a plant in the woods and become addicted to it. At the end of the episode, Robbie urged viewers "Say no to drugs -- Help put a stop to preachy sitcom endings like this one." |
| 183 | ** The show's GrandFinale, "Changing Nature", was a Very Special Episode about pollution played pretty much completely straight. [[SuddenDownerEnding It wasn't very upbeat]]. |
| 184 | * ''Series/SesameStreet'': |
| 185 | ** A very famous Very Special Episode dealt with the death of Mr. Harold Hooper, which was entirely {{justified|Trope}} as [[RealLifeWritesThePlot the man who played him had actually died.]] Not a shred of {{Narm}} this time, this Very Special Episode headed straight into TearJerker territory. A similar scenario, in which Elmo deals with the death of his uncle Jack, was produced in TheNewTens. |
| 186 | ** There was also an episode about [[http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Episode_3140 racism.]] |
| 187 | ** They also made an episode dealing with Mr. Snuffleupagus's parents getting divorced, but the test screening showed that the kids didn't get the right messages from it (such as them becoming ''more'' worried about their parents getting divorced), so it was scrapped and never aired. |
| 188 | ** There is a very special book out there about Elmo's parents being deployed. It's sometimes passed out to military kids at family events. |
| 189 | ** There was also 2 special episodes aired after [[UsefulNotes/TheWarOnTerror 9/11]]. The first one was about a grease fire at Mr. Hooper's store. Elmo gets very terrified about this, until some real firefighters come and tell him everything will be just fine. The second one was about Big Bird dealing with Gulliver, his pen pal who believes birds should not be friends with any other species. |
| 190 | ** There was an episode which centered around Big Bird's nest, which had been destroyed by a hurricane. |
| 191 | ** Another episode deals with kids who have parents that are incarcerated. |
| 192 | ** "Meet Julia!" teaches the viewers about UsefulNotes/{{autism}}. |
| 193 | ** The show had three specials to help kids deal with the coronavirus outbreak: |
| 194 | *** The first, ''Elmo's Playdate'', was based on the video chats that were popular during this era, but also addressed issues resulting from it like essential trips to the grocery store and how hard doctors are working. |
| 195 | *** The second, ''The [=ABCs=] of COVID-19'', had the characters answer children's questions about the pandemic and the issues that resulted from it. There was also a sequel to this special. Both aired on CNN as town halls. |
| 196 | *** The third was ''[[Series/ElmosWorld Elmo's World News]]'', which [[NoExportForYou didn't air in North America]] aside from airings on Creator/AmericanForcesNetwork. |
| 197 | ** In response to the George Floyd protests, "Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism" and "The Power of We" were created. |
| 198 | ** There's also a series of episodes about dealing with parents who suffer from addiction, starring a character named Karli. |
| 199 | * ''Series/BearInTheBigBlueHouse'': |
| 200 | ** According to [[https://web.archive.org/web/20131030183950/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/feb/26/entertainment/ca-11792 this article,]] "When You've Got To Go!", which taught about [[ToiletTrainingPlot potty training]], was a very special episode. Why? Because back in the 90's, and even still today, potty training was rarely addressed in Western children's shows. It even was released on home video![[note]]And as of 2022 remains in print, despite first-run broadcast of the series having ended in the mid-2000s.[[/note]] |
| 201 | ** Another example was "The Amazing Skippy", an episode which revolved around Treelo's friend Skippy, who is blind. The American Council of the Blind also helped write this episode. |
| 202 | ** The two-part opening to the final season, "Welcome to Woodland Valley," was [[http://web.archive.org/web/20040205143732/https://toughpigs.com/extrabear911.htm billed this way]] and was written partly as a response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It doesn't mention them directly, but does deal with a tree having damaged the town library and has a theme of "community." Show creator and executive producer Mitchell Kriegman stated that the attacks happened around the time they started production of season 4 and they couldn't help thinking about how it might affect children. Juliet Blake, president of Jim Henson Television U.S. at the time, even used the term word-for-word, stating "....we hope that this very special episode of ''Bear in the Big Blue House'' will prove to be a useful tool for both parents and educators in continuing the healing process among America's youth." |
| 203 | * ''Series/TheNoddyShop'' had "Part of the Family", a Mother's Day-themed episode that focused on Julie, a foster child who doesn't like hearing people talk about moms. Like the ''Bear in the Big Blue House'' example, the creators got an organization related to the episode's topic (in this case, it was the Child Welfare League of America) to assist them in the production of the episode. |
| 204 | ** The GrandFinale, "Closing Up Shop", [[spoiler: has a partial focus on how smoking is bad,]] since the plot involves [[spoiler: a man wanting to turn NODDY's into a cigar store]]. |
| 205 | [[/folder]] |
| 206 | |
| 207 | [[folder:Toys]] |
| 208 | * Since the first wave, the stories of ''Toys/HeroFactory'' amount to this (if the animated series is anything to go by): the Fire Lord arc is a drug PSA using fuel as a metaphor for drugs, and the Witch Doctor arc is about environmentalism. |
| 209 | [[/folder]] |
| 210 | |
| 211 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 212 | * Parodied in ''[[VideoGame/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice Sam & Max]] Season 2: Night of the Raving Dead''. The pair film a "Very Special Episode" of ''[[ShowWithinAShow Midtown Cowboys]]'' in which they confront their landlord about his addiction... but the episode is really a massive product-placement ad, because who ''wouldn't'' be addicted to the great taste of Old Gutsmack brand Malt Liquor? |
| 213 | ** And then they replace the liquor with cigarettes containing garlic, causing a German vampire who is a big fan of the show to smoke them. You can also replace the liquor with a brand of water that you find in the castle, leading to some hilarious ad-lib moments. |
| 214 | * ''VideoGame/OsuTatakaeOuendan'', its sequel, and its American counterpart ''VideoGame/EliteBeatAgents'' each have a level with a more serious story than usual behind it, involving a person/family coping with the death of a loved one. These levels are set to slower, quieter songs than the other stages. In ''Elite Beat Agents'', the song used is Music/{{Chicago}}'s "You're the Inspiration". |
| 215 | * ''VideoGame/HighSchoolStory'' features a quest line called "Hope's Story" about cyberbullying; due to the long time waits required to complete quests, it functions much as a days-long PublicServiceAnnouncement. The cynic may also describe it as a days-long ProductPlacement for the Cybersmile Foundation. |
| 216 | * Parodied in the intro to ''VideoGame/CelDamage'': |
| 217 | --> ''Tonight, on a very special episode of'' Cel Damage: ''Will Violet ever learn of the disease that's slowly killing her? Will Sinder ever become house-trained?'' '''''.....NAH!''''' ''We'll just drive around way too fast and blow up everything in sight like we do every week!'' |
| 218 | * ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' features Dorian, a UsefulNotes/{{homosexual}} companion, whose personal quest (involving [[spoiler: his family attempting to "cure" him of his orientation via potentially-dangerous blood magic]]) is rather [[{{Anvilicious}} blunt]] in its message. Note that while there is ''some'' in-game justification for the shift (Dorian is from a culture that had not yet been featured in-depth in previous games and its rulers are engaging in a SuperBreedingProgram, discouraging non-procreative unions), previous ''Franchise/DragonAge'' titles hadn't portrayed homosexuals as very controversial or discriminated-against in-setting. |
| 219 | ** At least in context, it isn't that Dorian's parents think being gay is wrong. It's that he won't play by the Imperium rules and agree to an ArrangedMarriage SuperBreedingProgram. His parents would probably be fine if he engaged in extramarital homosexual relations so long as it's behind closed doors so long as he marries the proper girl and produces an heir first. WordOfGod is Dorian's parents hate each other and as a result only had one child which is why they can't turn to another kid to continue the family line. This gives credible in-universe justifications for their actions, but doesn't work as a RealLife allegory for parental homophobia as the basis for Dorian's fictional discrimination is vastly different to what people face in the real world. |
| 220 | ** There is also a book discussing Sexuality in Thedas that comes off as rather... hamfisted in how it points out that such discrimination practically doesn't exist in the setting. However, the ''Dragon Age'' setting has plenty of its own unique social issues -- particularly those regarding elves, mages, and religious extremism -- that make UsefulNotes/{{homophobia}} seem quaint in comparison. |
| 221 | * ''VideoGame/{{Fortnite}}'' featured an interactive recreation of ''UsefulNotes/MartinLutherKingJr'' famous speech as well as monuments and museums about the history of the ''UsefulNotes/CivilRightsMovement'' as a limited time mode. |
| 222 | * ''VideoGame/{{Gamedec}}'': The bonus scenario ''Seven Daemons'' in the Definitive Edition had a Suicide Prevention message. |
| 223 | * ''VideoGame/WatchDogs2'' has the side mission ''Bad Publicity'' where Marcus is sent to take down a recent recruit to [=DedSec=], a streamer called [=Pr0=]-Lapz for abusing his skills and getting his opponents [=SWATted=][[note]]He's been calling the police on false terrorism charge on innocent people[[/note]] for an advantage, with Marcus doing the same to him. While usually the mission dialogues is often humorous throughout the game, this one is treated very seriously due to the number of [=SWATting=] incidents over the years as a result of online gaming and streaming, due to how easy it is to [=SWAT=] someone, how illegal it is and how ''dangerous'' this is! |
| 224 | ** The DLC has one mission about cyberattack targeting hospitals (similar to a certain cyberattack that attacks public sectors, including hospitals, occasionally and, incidentally, the DLC was released [[Main/HarsherInHindsight before the infamous May 2017 global-scale cyberattack)]], even the Dedsec announces urges taxpayers voice to prioritize update on the vulnerable hospital computers. |
| 225 | * The ''[[VideoGame/{{ARMA}} ARMA 3]]'' DLC campaign ''The Laws of War'', which was co-developed with the International Red Cross, focuses on depicting an NGO working to clear an abandoned village of unexploded ordinance and features comparatively little combat, all of it told InMediasRes. The story focuses on not only [[WarIsHell the tragic consequences of war to both combatants and civilians]], but also goes into detail about the dangers of both unexploded ordinance and anti-personnel landmines to civilian populations. |
| 226 | * Expect at least one or two sidequests at ''least'' to take on various forms of this in the ''VideoGame/{{Yakuza}}'' series. While a lot of these are universal, several others focus on issues that are fairly unique to Japanese society, such as the dangers of {{cult}}s, confronting the need to lay off employees when business is hard (which is a ''huge'' cultural taboo in UsefulNotes/{{Japan}}) and helping a school girl confront one of her peers who has roped her into selling her used panties to strangers. Unlike most examples, these are usually thoughtfully approached and well-written, enough so that ''WebAnimation/ExtraCredits'' dedicated an episode giving praise to how ''VideoGame/Yakuza0'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzdylKgPjNI handled the topic of sexuality.]] |
| 227 | [[/folder]] |
| 228 | |
| 229 | [[folder:Web Animation]] |
| 230 | * ''WebAnimation/{{Cocomelon}}'' had a series of videos where Cody's mother is pregnant and how he learns to deal with it. |
| 231 | [[/folder]] |
| 232 | |
| 233 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 234 | * ''Webcomic/CtrlAltDel'' is usually a comedic gag-a-day strip. However, it also had a storyline focusing on a character's miscarriage, starting with a strip titled [[https://cad-comic.com/comic/loss/ "Loss"]]. |
| 235 | * [[ParodiedTrope Parodied]] in a ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'' [[http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2005/4/27/ strip]]. Set within the ''Franchise/StarWars'' universe, the strip shows a discussion within a Rebel-sided family. It is implied that the teenage daughter was dating an Imperial junior officer, who later dies, and was impregnated with his child. |
| 236 | * ''Webcomic/PixieTrixComix'' had [[https://pixietrixcomix.com/pixie-trix-comix/respond-to-people-appropriately this strip,]] in which Sharon is schooled concerning the subject of non-consensual surgery for intersex people (a subject which is personal for the writer). Sharon, who has previously been depicted as virtually TheSociopath, is appropriately shocked and outraged, suddenly developing the capacity for empathy. |
| 237 | * Parodied in the comic-within-a-comic ''Webcomic/SweetBroAndHellaJeff'', wherein The Big Man [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/sweetbroandhellajeff/?cid=019.jpg wants that us all to keep it real about... AIDS.]] |
| 238 | [[/folder]] |
| 239 | |
| 240 | [[folder:Web Original]] |
| 241 | * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSchiqWIB6g Alternate History Hub's video on the Armenian Genocide]] certainly counts. Instead of exploring alternate history what ifs, the video is dedicated to a summary of the genocide and raises awareness of its denial by numerous nations, including the perpetrator. [[{{Narrator}} Cody's]] voice is pretty somber and serious, and no lighthearted snark, comedic elements or background music (even during the outro) are present. |
| 242 | * Parodied in ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'', episode 17, which features a commercial for a Very Special Episode of [[ShowWithinAShow Zorc and Pals:]] |
| 243 | --> '''Announcer:''' Next week, in a very special episode of Zorc and Pals:\ |
| 244 | '''Florence:''' Zorc, what's wrong? Why haven't you destroyed the world?\ |
| 245 | '''Zorc:''' Because I have a [[SoapOperaDisease terminal disease!]]\ |
| 246 | '''Florence:''' But you can't die! What about our adopted daughter? Who is going to take care of her when you're gone?\ |
| 247 | '''Zorc:''' [[LittlestCancerPatient She also has a terminal disease!]]\ |
| 248 | '''Announcer:''' Don't miss this very special award-winning episode of Zorc and Pals. [[RatingsStunt Because we really need the ratings.]] |
| 249 | * Parodied in ''WebVideo/AvatarTheLastPuppetBender''. Toph hosts a special episode speaking out against... people pronouncing your name wrong. Manga/{{Naruto}} even showed up. |
| 250 | * [[WebVideo/TheGameHeroes 8-Bit Mickey]] interviewed a member of the Westboro Baptist Church at one of their protests… at the Holocaust Museum. Why yes, they aren't just viciously homophobic and transphobic, they're anti-Semitic. He kept level headed throughout the interview and at the end of the video stated that he was quite shocked at these people. |
| 251 | * {{Discussed|Trope}} in an episode of ''WebVideo/LoadingReadyRun'' ''WebVideo/CommodoreHustle'' where they think about filming a "Very Special" episodes of warriors of darkness to explain why [[ItMakesSenseInContext Paul has lost his beard.]] |
| 252 | * ''WebAnimation/ExtraCredits'', normally a VisualPun-centric commentary on video games, did this with the second part of an episode on game addiction. Instead of the show's normally minimalist art, the writer, James Portnow, sat down in front of a camera and talked about his previous experiences with gaming addictions and the harm it did to his life. It even came with a moral: ''"Life will always welcome you back."'' |
| 253 | * ''WebAnimation/FoxysFamily'' has "The Pandemic Peril", which talks about the importance of staying in quarantine to prevent the spread of UsefulNotes/COVID19. |
| 254 | * ''WebVideo/BrowsHeldHigh'': |
| 255 | ** The review of ''Theatre/AngelsInAmerica'' for World AIDS Day in part of the Red Ribbon Reviewers project was mostly a PSA about HIV and AIDS, and praise for the play and TV miniseries. |
| 256 | ** His review of ''Film/{{Melancholia}}''. The movie deals with themes of severe depression, and when it starts as a fun MilestoneCelebration, it quickly grinds down and becomes less funny until WebVideo/FilmBrain calls him out for focusing on easily mocked but ultimately irrelevant aspects of the movie instead of facing the ElephantInTheLivingRoom. At this point, Kyle stops the review to talk for a moment about real-life depression and his battles with such. |
| 257 | * WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic had "The Top 11 ''[[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Simpsons]]'' Episodes" and "The Top 11 ''WesternAnimation/{{Batman|TheAnimatedSeries}}'' Episodes". Neither episode had much humor, so the failure at school and DomesticAbuse talks stood out better. |
| 258 | * ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'': The episodes where Linkara reviews Very Special Episode comics have been given the moniker "{{P|ublicServiceAnnouncement}}SA Hell". Additionally, in one episode, Linkara explains that he was asked to do an episode dealing with bullying, particularly that relating to geeky interests, but he then states that he wasn't able to approach the subject because, while he ''was'' bullied as a child, it was because he had an unusual surname, not because he liked comic books. He then goes on to discuss a few ''Spider-Man'' comics that mentioned the issue, but didn't do a very good job at it. |
| 259 | * WebVideo/ToddInTheShadows: |
| 260 | ** The episode on "Turn Up the Music" only barely mentions the song. Instead it's a long rant on how its performer, Music/ChrisBrown, still acts like a despicable human being despite all the backlash against him in the past. |
| 261 | ** "Last Night" by Music/MorganWallen takes a similar approach, talking about the infamous video of him [[NWordPrivileges using the N-word casually]], though the tone is less "angry" and more "conflicted" as it talks about his apology tour and if he deserves a second chance. |
| 262 | * {{Parodied|Trope}} and {{deconstructed|Trope}} in the fifth ''WebVideo/DontHugMeImScared'' video. A gang of talking foods sing a common children's cartoon [[AnAesop aesop]] about [[AWeightyAesop eating healthy]]. It soon becomes obvious they're very factually incorrect and spouting nonsense. Things such as how "plain foods" such as "bread, cream, white sauce, and aspic" are good for you while "fancy foods" like "cooked meats, fruit salad, soil foods, and yolk" are bad for you. The AnthropomorphicFood characters are also FauxAffablyEvil and condescending towards Duck Guy and his friends. |
| 263 | * ''WebVideo/YouTubeRewind'': |
| 264 | ** Rewind 2017 has a sequence in which all the characters have to deal with all the terrible things that happened that year. They pull through these tough times by HoldingHands. |
| 265 | ** Rewind 2018 has a campfire scene where the characters give shout-outs to those who helped out important causes, talked about mental health, supported each other, etc. |
| 266 | * ''WebVideo/LEGORewind'': |
| 267 | ** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C31Kz7-M0VY&list=PLxo4wseRbUXYzjE563UerPs7qj69iQoq9&index=24&t=0s The "Western" episode]] touches upon cultural sensitivity in regards to changing values, and how that boils into what many would dismiss as PoliticalOvercorrectness. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naXRBLcOVLI This follow-up video]] goes further into his thoughts on the matter. |
| 268 | ** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz8TTK_ubls&list=PLxo4wseRbUXYzjE563UerPs7qj69iQoq9&index=25&t=0s The "Girl Themes" episode]] discusses the GirlShowGhetto and the segregation of boy and girl markets. |
| 269 | * ''Funny or Die'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRcB4n4CGcy_NWFUygLwfBd3_DbEOlWfq an entire series]] comically summarizing Very Special Episodes of various sitcoms, mostly those from ''Series/SeventhHeaven'' and ''Series/FullHouse''. |
| 270 | * WebVideo/GameGrumps: Episode 19 of Wind Waker HD was taken up by Danny's very serious and heartfelt story about his struggles with OCD when he was younger, how it lead to some serious depression, and how he managed to overcome them. The fan reaction was overwhelmingly positive, to the point where in a later episode Danny did a special recording thanking everyone for their responses and apologized for not being able to respond to them all individually. |
| 271 | * {{Subverted|Trope}} in ''WebAnimation/BrainDump''[='=]s episode on UsefulNotes/{{fascism}}. It starts with Creator/MaxGilardi claiming he's become [[OldShame ashamed of his past producing shock-ordinated art]][[invoked]], and that he wants to focus on using his platform to change society in positive ways. He then begins to discuss the subject of fascism, but he doesn't get to define even one form of it when Goofball disrupts the entire episode drinking something he claims to be cum, and Max spends the rest of the episode obsessing over that action, worried that Website/YouTube's content policies are being violated. |
| 272 | [[/folder]] |
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