Line #343 TropeDistinctions/GToI


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2	%% Don't forget to keep this list synced with the Laconical List Of Subtle Trope Distinctions by adding any new distinctions there as well as here.
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5	Part 3 of the CanonicalListOfSubtleTropeDistinctions. Items are sorted alphabetically by whichever trope is alphabetically first; if you're looking for one in specific, use the "Find" or "Search" function of your Web browser.
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7	[[center: [- Pages: [[TropeDistinctions/AToC A — C]] \| [[TropeDistinctions/DToF D — F]] \| '''G — I''' \| [[TropeDistinctions/JToR J — R]] \| [[TropeDistinctions/SToZ S — Z]] -] ]]
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11	[[folder:G]]
12	!!!GambitPileup vs. LastPlanStanding vs. OutGambitted
13	* GambitPileup is when lots of different factions and parties have their own agendas for a situation.
14	* LastPlanStanding is the fact that when lots of different plans come together, only one person's plan is likely to actually come to fruition. The other plans may have been destroyed by various factors - each other, internal problems, a SpannerInTheWorks suddenly ruining ''everyone'''s day, etc.
15	* OutGambitted is when two plans come directly head-to-head, and it turns out one of the parties strategized better than the other and manages to crunch their plan and proceed with their own. This may only be a small part of a larger GambitPileup (A outwits B, but still has to deal with C and D), and only results in LastPlanStanding if these were the only plans present/remaining.
16
17	!!! GameBreaker vs. HighTierScrappy
18	* A GameBreaker is an extremely strong gameplay element that generally outclasses all the alternatives, sometimes making the game trivial.
19	* A HighTierScrappy is hated because it's strong enough to be difficult to defeat, and popular enough that [[ComplacentGamingSyndrome nearly everyone uses it]]. It need not always be a game-breaker; reasonably strong elements can still be hated for popularity.
20
21	!!!GatheringSteam vs. MagikarpPower
22	* GatheringSteam is when something has to gradually build itself up to be extremely strong.
23	* MagikarpPower is when something that's extremely weak, through a lot of perseverance, gains a sudden and major increase in power.
24
25	!!!GenerationXerox vs. IdenticalGrandson vs. UncannyFamilyResemblance
26	* GenerationXerox is about a character having an identical, or at least very similar, personality and plot arc to their parent or other ancestor.
27	* IdenticalGrandson is about a character looking exactly like their family member, often via [[ActingForTwo being played by the same actor]].
28	* UncannyFamilyResemblance is when relatives look very similar to each other, but usually in a more realistic version than the above.
29
30	!!!GenocideBackfire vs. NiceJobBreakingItHerod
31	* GenocideBackfire occurs when a villain wipes out an entire people in order to prevent an uprising, only to have this act ''cause'' the uprising. This can overlap with NiceJobBreakingItHerod if the genocide had a specific target.
32	* NiceJobBreakingItHerod occurs when a villain targets the person destined to defeat him while he is still too young to protect himself. This can overlap with GenocideBackfire if the villain wipes out the target's entire people to try and get to him.
33
34	!!!GentlemanThief vs JustLikeRobinHood vs. KarmicThief
35	* A GentlemanThief is a thief who goes about his crimes with style, good manners, and usually a code of honor; that said, he's not necessarily concerned with charity or justice.
36	* Someone who's JustLikeRobinHood robs the rich to give to the poor; the emphasis is often as much on improving the lives of the poor and defying unjust authority as it is on daring feats of thievery.
37	* A KarmicThief targets those who he believes deserve to lose what they've got, whether because they stole it themselves or are generally criminal and/or evil. However, unlike the Robin Hoods, they usually keep the loot.
38
39	!!!GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff vs. AmericansHateTingle
40	* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff is when a work is very popular in a specific market other than its country of origin, sometimes even more popular than in its home country.
41	* AmericansHateTingle is when a work or aspect of a work is popular in its country of origin but despised in another market.
42
43	!!!GettingCrapPastTheRadar vs. ParentalBonus
44	* GettingCrapPastTheRadar is specifically an allusion to something not allowed by the ratings board or the higher-ups, typically profane words, sex or violence.
45	* A ParentalBonus ''can'' be a naughty reference, but can also be a reference to things kids just aren't likely to get, like history, classic literature, or old music.
46
47	!!!{{Ghostapo}} vs. UsefulNotes/NazisWithGnarlyWeapons vs. StupidJetpackHitler vs. WeDidntStartTheFuhrer
48	* In {{Ghostapo}}, the Nazis have supernatural powers or control over a supernatural object.
49	* UsefulNotes/NazisWithGnarlyWeapons is a UsefulNotes page detailing the weapons used by the real Nazis, in contrast to how they are sometimes [[ThoseWackyNazis depicted in media]].
50	* In StupidJetpackHitler, they have technology beyond what was actually used by them or even available during WWII.
51	* In all of the above, they ''invented'' or ''discovered'' the superior technology or a magical object while being normal humans otherwise. On the other hand, when WeDidntStartTheFuhrer, Hitler and/or the Nazis ''were'', or were created by, some kind of alien or supernatural creature.
52
53	!!!GiftGivingGaffe vs. MyNewGiftIsLame
54	* A GiftGivingGaffe inadvertently offends the recipient of the gift, often because it's too practical and not fun/romantic enough (e.g. Bob giving Alice a vacuum cleaner) or because it's so far outside the recipient's taste it's obvious the giver didn't put any thought in.
55	* MyNewGiftIsLame is about someone receiving a present they think is disappointing compared to what others are receiving. It ''may'' be a gaffe on the part of the giver, but may also be a way of passing the recipient a useful or valuable object that just ''looks'' lame.
56
57	!!!GivingUpTheGhost vs. WingedSoulFliesOffAtDeath
58	* In GivingUpTheGhost, a character's soul escapes from their body momentarily to indicate exhaustion or pain; they're actually still alive. It's usually found in {{Anime}}.
59	* In WingedSoulFliesOffAtDeath, a character [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin dies]] and their soul flies off. It's usually found in WesternAnimation.
60
61	!!!GodIsEvil vs. GodOfEvil vs. JerkassGods vs. TricksterGod
62	* GodIsEvil refers to portraying the supreme deity of a universe as malevolent. It usually applies when there ''is'' only one God, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin but he's evil]].
63	* GodOfEvil is a god in a polytheistic pantheon who is ''responsible'' for creating, spreading, or ruling over evil in the world.
64	* JerkassGods are gods with a tendency to be jerks. They enjoy messing with each other or mortals, and can commit evil acts, but are not Gods of Evil if that isn't their job. Virtually every [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Greek god]] is a Jerkass God in at least one myth, but ''none'' are Gods of Evil. [[EveryoneHatesHades Not even Hades.]]
65	* A TricksterGod is a god characterized by cunning and deception, but not necessarily evil; they may overlap with JerkassGods, but may also use their guile to ''help'' the other gods and humanity.
66
67	!!!GoneHorriblyRight vs. GoneHorriblyWrong
68	* GoneHorriblyRight is when the product/experiment has a bad outcome from doing exactly what was intended, either from going further than the creator(s) thought it would, or because of unforeseen consequences of its purpose.
69	* GoneHorriblyWrong is when an unforeseen glitch causes the product/experiment to have a bad outcome.
70
71	!!!TheGoodGuysAlwaysWin vs. InvincibleHero vs. JusticeWillPrevail
72	* TheGoodGuysAlwaysWin is the tendency of the good guys to ultimately prevail over evil by the end of the story.
73	* An InvincibleHero is victorious not only at the end, but at every intermediate point as well.
74	* JusticeWillPrevail is when a ''character'' believes that good will ultimately prevail over evil.
75
76	!!!GoodIsNotNice vs. GoodIsNotSoft
77	* GoodIsNotNice describes a character who, while being on the side of right, is unfriendly, cynical and rude.
78	* GoodIsNotSoft describes a character who is good ''and'' may even be nice also being able to take decisive action to protect themselves or their loved ones from evil.
79
80	!!!GoodLawyersGoodClients vs. OnlyBadGuysCallTheirLawyers
81	* GoodLawyersGoodClients is when the show portrays a correlation between the morality of the attorney and the actual guilt or innocence of their clients. It usually relates to a legal case, or to multiple cases if the lawyer is the main character.
82	* OnlyBadGuysCallTheirLawyers is when someone is assumed to be guilty simply because they've lawyered up, even if their lawyer is good. It usually relates to a criminal investigation.
83
84	!!!GoodWeaponEvilWeapon vs. EvilWeapon
85	* GoodWeaponEvilWeapon is about how different kinds of weapons are more likely to be ''used'' by good or evil people. The weapons just look "good" or "evil" (e.g. a straight sword vs. a SinisterScimitar) without necessarily having personalities.
86	* An EvilWeapon is ''sentient'' and evil. It usually also looks like an evil weapon.
87
88	!!!GoryDeadlyOverkillTitleOfFatalDeath vs. MadLibThrillerTitle vs. UltraSuperDeathGoreFestChainsawer3000
89	* A GoryDeadlyOverkillTitleOfFatalDeath applies to horror, usually of the slasher and/or supernatural type. It's not a specific formula so much as it is an overuse of words for gore and death.
90	* A MadLibThrillerTitle applies more to mysteries and suspense-driven thrillers. It ''is'' a specific formula of three words, and ''Literature/TheDaVinciCode'' is the TropeMaker.
91	* UltraSuperDeathGoreFestChainsawer3000 is a fictional video game that is stereotypically violent. It doesn't necessarily have a GDOTOFD, though the trope name does.
92
93	!!!GratuitousNazis vs. PuttingOnTheReich vs. ThoseWackyNazis
94	* GratuitousNazis are Nazis that appear completely out of historical context--it's not any of the fronts of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, or even [[ArgentinaIsNaziland postwar South America]] but suddenly, the protagonists are fighting Nazis.
95	* PuttingOnTheReich refers to fictional dictatorial regimes which are designed out of universe to resemble Nazi Germany. They don't have to have any intention (or even knowledge) in-universe to do so.
96	* ThoseWackyNazis are Nazis which are not entirely out of place, but are not taken very seriously either--the more horrifying aspects are [[HistoricalVillainDowngrade toned down]] and the more easily ridiculed aspects are played up.
97
98	!!!GraveRobbing vs. RobbingTheDead
99	* GraveRobbing is about digging up graves or breaking into tombs to steal dead bodies themselves, although occasionally property buried with them is also taken (especially if a long enough time period has passed for grave robbing to become archaeology.)
100	* RobbingTheDead is about taking personal property from dead bodies, usually more recently dead (and sometimes killed by the robber themselves, or by their side in a war.)
101
102	!!!GreaterScopeVillain vs. TheManBehindTheMan
103	* GreaterScopeVillain is when there is a more powerful presence than the BigBad in the story, but who is largely disconnected from the main events as a whole.
104	* TheManBehindTheMan is when the supposed BigBad is actually taking orders from someone else behind the scenes.
105
106	!!!GuideDangIt vs. MoonLogicPuzzle vs. ThatOnePuzzle
107	* A GuideDangIt is one where, short of random guessing, the solution cannot reasonably be found without a guide.
108	* A MoonLogicPuzzle is one that requires InsaneTrollLogic to solve, but still makes sense... if only in hindsight.
109	* ThatOnePuzzle is a puzzle that is uncharacteristically difficult compare to the others. Expect forums to be flooded with "How do I solve X???" threads.
110	** Note that these can overlap: ThatOnePuzzle tends to be a MoonLogicPuzzle more often than not, and some {{Moon Logic Puzzle}}s may involve GuideDangIt steps. Simple test: you come across a puzzle. If the clues are obvious, but it's still incredibly difficult, it's ThatOnePuzzle. If the clues are given, but have to be interpreted abstractly, it's a MoonLogicPuzzle. If there are no clues at all, or there's no indication it even ''is'' a puzzle, it's a GuideDangIt.
111
112	!!!GuyInBack vs {{Wingman}}
113	* The GuyInBack is a member of the same aircraft crew as the main character, but isn't the pilot or co-pilot (where applicable). He isn't flying the plane.
114	* The {{Wingman}} is the pilot of another plane altogether.
115
116	!!!GuysAreSlobs vs. MenAreUncultured vs. MenCantKeepHouse
117	* GuysAreSlobs is about men being boorish, lazy and unhygienic. They certainly ''can't'' keep house, but their slobbishness extends beyond that into other areas of their lives.
118	* MenAreUncultured is about men having less interest in high culture like art and [[AtTheOperaTonight the opera]], usually to the annoyance of the women in their lives who do like those things. They aren't necessarily ''complete'' slobs.
119	* MenCantKeepHouse is about men failing miserably when tasked with household chores. These men also need not be slobs in every area of their lives and in fact, the trope often plays with the contrast of a man who ''is'' competent and put-together at work being mystified by keeping house.
120	[[/folder]]
121
122	[[folder:H]]
123	!!!HailToTheThief vs. TheVillainSucksSong
124	* HailToTheThief is a song that ridicules a political leader, especially a RealLife one in a period piece.
125	* TheVillainSucksSong is a song that describes or ridicules the villain of the work itself. Can overlap with HailToTheThief, but villains don't have to be in charge of anything to get a song about them sucking.
126
127	!!!HamAndCheese vs. TookTheBadFilmSeriously vs. WriterRevolt
128	* HamAndCheese is an actor reacting to a bad work by [[LargeHam acting over the top]].
129	* TookTheBadFilmSeriously is an actor reacting to a bad work by acting better than the work deserves.
130	* WriterRevolt is a writer reacting to ExecutiveMeddling in an otherwise good work.
131
132	!!!HandWave vs. JustifiedTrope vs. LampshadeHanging vs. VoodooShark
133	* A HandWave is an explanation given for a trope that, well, isn't actually an explanation; it's merely something that the writers tossed in to make it appear as if they had addressed the issue ("The car exploded because of the bullets hitting the fuel tank").
134	* A JustifiedTrope is when a logical explanation is given for a trope ([[EveryCarIsAPinto "The truck exploded because it was loaded with unspent ordnance"]]).
135	* A LampshadeHanging makes no attempt at an explanation, it just notes the improbability or impossibility of the trope, and moves on ("Cars don't just explode like that!").
136	* A VoodooShark is an explanation that actually makes things ''worse'' ("The car exploded because it was covered with nitroglycerin" - [[FridgeLogic why was the car covered in nitroglycerin, exactly]]?).
137
138	!!!HappyEndingOverride vs. SequelReset
139	* SequelReset is when, after the previous installment had an established ending that gave no room for the story to continue, the sequel comes and everything is undone so the sequel can exist.
140	* HappyEndingOverride is this when the previous installment had a happy ending, but then the sequel shows that the ending only led to more suffering, or retcons the ending so it was never happy to begin with.
141
142	!!!HappyFunBall vs. MyLittlePanzer
143	* A HappyFunBall is something (not ''necessarily'' a toy, but many are) that looks harmless, but has unexpected danger. A beach ball that blows up is a HappyFunBall.
144	* A MyLittlePanzer is a child's toy that has functions or parts that make it dangerous. It doesn't even ''look'' innocuous. A beach ball that has sharp spikes coming out of it is a MyLittlePanzer.
145
146	!!! HardTruthAesop vs. DarthWiki/WarpThatAesop
147	* A HardTruthAesop is when the explicit and intentional lesson provided by a work is against accepted wisdom but isn't invalid.
148	* DarthWiki/WarpThatAesop is when the audience deliberately makes up a silly or wrong message by taking things out of context or taking a particular situation as a generality.
149
150	!!!HarmlessVillain vs. HateSink vs. IneffectualSympatheticVillain vs. NotSoHarmlessVillain vs. VillainyFreeVillain
151	* A HarmlessVillain is a villain that poses little to no legitimate threat. These villains either don't really want to do anything '''truly''' evil or couldn't pose a threat, even if they wanted to. They may very well not be failures and can actually succeed in their plans to the point where the audience doesn't even feel sorry for them. It's just that evil acts [[PokeThePoodle are often gags or not very serious in the grand scheme of things]].
152	* The HateSink is the character that's there for you to hate because the main conflict ''isn't'' with a human villain (or is with [[HeroAntagonist an antagonist you can't hate]]). May or may not be villainy-free; is usually not "harmless" because if he doesn't meaningfully mistreat or obstruct the heroes he won't be hated.
153	* An IneffectualSympatheticVillain ''wants'' to commit conventionally villainous actions, but is prevented from achieving anything by his own incompetence and often makes you [[TheWoobie pity them.]] They can be seen as the EvilCounterpart of the FailureHero. They're distinct from the Harmless Villain in that they actually '''could''' be very dangerous given the chance AND want to be be so. That said, this villain can overlap with the Harmless Villain if the villain is ultimately harmless despite ''wanting'' to be dangerous.
154	* The NotSoHarmlessVillain is a HarmlessVillain or IneffectualSympatheticVillain that [[TookALevelInBadass that steps up their game]] and proves to be a legitimate ''and'' successful threat.
155	* A VillainyFreeVillain is an antagonist who has an acceptable goal and legal means, but is presented as such a distasteful person the audience can still hate him.
156
157	!!!HaveANiceDeath vs. ItsAWonderfulFailure vs. NonstandardGameOver
158	* HaveANiceDeath is a regular game over which is mocked in some way by the game itself.
159	* ItsAWonderfulFailure is a regular game over which is accompanied by a drawn-out DownerEnding.
160	* A NonstandardGameOver is a sudden, unexpected game over which deviates from the standard game mechanics in some way.
161
162	!!!HeadInTheSandManagement vs. TheQuisling
163	* HeadInTheSandManagement is an authority figure that refuses to address an evil because they are being willfully blind.
164	* TheQuisling is an authority figure who aids the evil force in controlling his own side.
165
166	!!!HeadsIWinTailsYouLose vs ISurrenderSuckers vs XanatosGambit
167	* HeadsIWinTailsYouLose is when we want to have a boss battle between these characters, and gameplay requires you to win but the plot requires you to lose. So losing in the fight gets a standard Game Over, but winning gets you a cutscene in which your character still gets beat up anyway.
168	* ISurrenderSuckers is when a character is defeated and/or captured by their opponent, and so is presumed to be at their mercy. However, being in this position allows the character to still further their agenda in a new, often unexpected way.
169	* XanatosGambit is when a character's plan accounts for all different outcomes in a favourable way - winning directs us towards Victory Type A, defeat directs us towards Victory Type B.
170
171	!!!HeadTurningBeauty vs. MsFanservice
172	* HeadTurningBeauty is the character whose attractiveness is designed to [[MaleGaze distract]] other characters.
173	* MsFanservice is the character whose attractiveness is designed to appeal to the audience.
174	** Overlap between these two is unsurprisingly common.
175
176	!!!HeartIsAnAwesomePower vs. NotCompletelyUseless vs. ThisLooksLikeAJobForAquaman vs. WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway
177	* HeartIsAnAwesomePower is for when a character has a superpower that seems weak and lame on paper, but proves to be surprisingly effective when used properly or creatively.
178	* NotCompletelyUseless refers to abilities or items in a game that are weak or [[OvershadowedByAwesome outclassed]] in most cases, but have a couple of niche situations in which they really shine, should the player think to use them.
179	* ThisLooksLikeAJobForAquaman is for when a character with [[CripplingOverspecialization cripplingly situational]] abilities finds themselves in a {{contrived\|Coincidence}} scenario in which said abilities are extremely useful.
180	* WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway is for when a character's superpowers really are as weak and lame as they appear on the surface.
181
182	!!!HeelRealization vs. MyGodWhatHaveIDone
183	* HeelRealization is more about realizing that you ''are'' a bad guy/on the wrong side.
184	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone is more about realizing that your actions have had terrible consequences. Naturally, the two can go hand in hand, but this trope can come as much from actions that looked moral or harmless up front but cause damage or pain as from actions that are genuinely immoral up front.
185
186	!!!HeroicFantasy vs. HighFantasy vs. LowFantasy vs. StandardFantasySetting
187	* HighFantasy features a DarkLord who must be beaten.
188	* LowFantasy may have a DarkLord, but he is not the BigBad.
189	* HeroicFantasy centers more around the hero than the DarkLord.
190	* The StandardFantasySetting is a ''possible'' setting for any of the above genres.
191
192	!!!HeroicMime vs. TheQuietOne vs. SilentBob vs. TheSpeechless vs. TheVoiceless
193	* A HeroicMime is a PlayerCharacter who has almost no instances of spoken dialogue. Although s/he may make plenty of vocalizations and can sometimes have written or implied dialogue, the greatest of his/her vocabulary is often "[[VisibleSilence ...]]"
194	* TheQuietOne can talk but will only do so to deliver a WhoopiEpiphanySpeech or something equally profound.
195	* TheSpeechless is a character who ''never'' talks, '''ever'''. They might be mute, or simply choose never to talk.
196	* SilentBob is also functionally the Speechless, but he communicates (often very "verbosely") through his body language, especially if it involves facial expressions.
197	* TheVoiceless ''can'' talk, but never does so onscreen. Usually done for laughs with characters commenting on how he's a chatterbox. If TheVoiceless ever talks, he becomes TheQuietOne.
198
199	!!!HeroWithAnFInGood vs. TokenEvilTeammate
200	* The HeroWithAnFInGood is a good guy who often has trouble actually doing the right thing, for whatever reason (vices, personality conflicts with team members, and actually having [[HeelFaceTurn been evil in the past]] are good ones). He usually worries about this and tries to get better.
201	* The TokenEvilTeammate works ''with'' good guys, usually for [[NotInThisForYourRevolution ulterior motives]], but is ''unapologetically'' evil. They don't ask "why am I so bad at being good" because they don't want to be good in the first place.
202
203	!!!HeterosexualLifePartners vs. HomoeroticSubtext vs. HoYay vs. OddCouple vs. PlatonicLifePartners
204	* HeterosexualLifePartners are two people of the same gender who are inseparable, to the point there may be a "breakup episode" or even withdrawals when they are separated.
205	* HomoeroticSubtext is when a work's interactions between characters of the same gender (usually male) have a homosexual subtext, done intentionally by the creator(s).
206	* HoYay is when fans of a work see interactions between characters of the same gender (usually male) as having a homosexual subtext, whether it's actually there or not.
207	* An OddCouple are two people who are friends but are generally complete opposites, for example a neat freak vs. a slob.
208	* PlatonicLifePartners are two people of opposite genders whose friendship has the same closeness as HeterosexualLifePartners, to the point that people often think of them as actually being in a relationship.
209
210	!!!HiddenBackupPrince vs. KingIncognito
211	* A HiddenBackupPrince is an heir to the throne who's stashed among commoners to hide him from his enemies. He doesn't necessarily have to know he's royalty.
212	* A KingIncognito is a royal who dresses up as a common person to accomplish some objective, usually gaining knowledge about what his people think of him (though sometimes he's also hiding from an enemy, or he's [[ThePrankster just playing a practical joke]]). ''He'' knows he's the king, and usually returns to his royal role by the end.
213
214	!!!HighlyVisibleNinja vs. IncrediblyObviousTail vs. OvertOperative
215	* HighlyVisibleNinja are people who are supposed to be stealthy, but are easily seen, [[NoticeThis especially by the audience]], because their disguises don't blend in very well.
216	* An IncrediblyObviousTail is anyone who's following someone else very obviously, including but not limited to actual surveillance operatives.
217	* An OvertOperative is a "spy" with a flashy and conspicuous lifestyle that should raise rather than avert suspicion.
218
219	!!!HistoricalDowngrade vs. HistoricalVillainDowngrade
220	* A HistoricalDowngrade refers to presenting a historical figure, whether they're known for good or bad things, as a human being with flaws, sometimes to the point of making them a ButtMonkey or StrawLoser, but sometimes only to the point of making them relatable and contrasting any [[HistoricalHeroUpgrade hero]] or [[HistoricalVillainUpgrade villain]] upgrades they had previously received.
221	* A HistoricalVillainDowngrade refers to reducing how evil a historical figure known as a villain appears. They're still described as a bad guy, but facts about some of their specific evil deeds are left out. Usually this is done because these facts would be NightmareFuel or otherwise inappropriate for a younger target demographic but the creator still wants to give the demographic some knowledge of the person and their role in history.
222
223	!!!HistoricalHilarity vs. HistoricalPersonPunchline
224	* In HistoricalHilarity, a cameo by a historical person is used as a brief gag in itself. The historical person's identity is instantly known to characters and the audience.
225	* In a HistoricalPersonPunchline, the historical person's identity is concealed from the audience until a crucial moment, sometimes by their using a different name or {{no name\|Given}} to the characters, or by their being [[YoungFutureFamousPeople younger than they were]] when they actually did their historical deeds. This does ''not'' have to be PlayedForLaughs; it could also be a WhamLine.
226
227	!!!HoYay vs. HomoeroticSubtext
228	* HoYay is when something can be ''interpreted'' as having homoerotic subtext, but it's unclear as to whether this was intentional or if it's all just in the viewers' heads.
229	* HomoeroticSubtext is when the subtext was ''definitely'' intended by the creator (and may even be lampshaded).
230
231	!!!{{Homage}} vs. ShoutOut
232	* A {{Homage}} is an aspect of a production that directly references something else, whether it be in the designs, character names, or something else that is repeatedly shown.
233	* A ShoutOut is is a one-time reference that is not a major aspect of the production, just a quick nod.
234
235	!!!HonorBeforeReason vs. LawfulStupid
236	* HonorBeforeReason is when a character does something detrimental to themselves because it's the right thing to do.
237	* LawfulStupid is when a character does something detrimental to themselves because the rules say they should.
238	** Another way to put it is that someone who has Honor Before Reason would give the McGuffin to the Big Bad because he promised. A Lawful Stupid character would work for the Big Bad because said Big Bad managed to become his boss.
239
240	!!!HookedUpAfterwards vs. MaybeEverAfter
241	* HookedUpAfterwards is only for secondary characters who are paired off at the end, sometimes despite not having much interaction within the work.
242	* MaybeEverAfter is when a RomanceArc between any two characters (possibly including the leads) ends with a hint that they hook up, but leaves some ambiguity about the relationship.
243
244	!!!HowCanSantaDeliverAllThoseToys vs. SantaAmbiguity vs. SantasExistenceClause
245	* With HowCanSantaDeliverAllThoseToys, Santa could exist, he could not exist, or it could be left ambiguous; it doesn't matter. The trope comes up ''any time the question of how Santa works is raised''.
246	* With SantaAmbiguity, it's '''never revealed''' if Santa exists or not.
247	* With SantasExistenceClause, someone starts to doubt Santa's existence and is told he's real, but then it turns out that the person who told the first person Santa is real is actually lying and doesn't believe in Santa. However, it turns out that Santa '''is''' real.
248
249	!!!HubLevel vs. TheOverworld vs. PlayableMenu
250	They're all the places you'll be in before you start playing in the actual stages, and all of them have degrees of size and activity.
251	* HubLevel is a small level with entry/teleport points to levels.
252	* TheOverworld is a large level with its environment directly connected to the more "active" places, common in {{RPG}}.
253	* PlayableMenu is not a level but a menu, with some extra "activity" beyond choosing where to go.
254
255	!!!HumansAreBastards vs. HumansAreCthulhu vs. HumansAreTheRealMonsters
256	* HumansAreBastards is when humans are horrible to each other.
257	* HumansAreCthulhu is when non-humans (often animals) see humans as {{Eldritch Abomination}}s.
258	* HumansAreTheRealMonsters is when humans are horrible to other sapient species.
259
260	!!!HypeAversion vs. ItsPopularNowItSucks
261	* With HypeAversion, a person avoids a super-popular property in the first place because they think [[LowestCommonDenominator it has to be dumb if it's that popular]] and/or that it can't live up to the hype.
262	* With ItsPopularNowItSucks, people that enjoyed an obscure property when it ''was'' obscure start hating it once [[NewbieBoom starts attracting a wider audience]].
263
264	!!!HyperAwareness vs. SherlockScan
265	* HyperAwareness is when a character is actively aware of their surroundings at almost all times, and will often point out events that occurred even while they were occupied with something else. Most "Hyper Aware" characters are capable of performing a SherlockScan.
266	* A character who does a SherlockScan is capable of instantly observing minor details and expanding upon them to make broader and accurate inductions about a person or location.
267	[[/folder]]
268
269	[[folder:I]]
270	!!!IAmNotShazam vs. ProtagonistTitleFallacy
271	* IAmNotShazam is a case of mistaken identity -- people mistake whom the CharacterTitle refers to or wrongly assume the title is a CharacterTitle when it isn't even one at all.
272	* ProtagonistTitleFallacy is a case of mistaken role -- people correctly know whom or what the CharacterTitle refers to but wrongly assume that the eponymous character is the protagonist because his/her name is the title.
273
274	!!!ICallItVera vs. NamedWeapons
275	* ICallItVera is when a person, out of attachment or humor, gives a name to their weapon, but the weapon itself is not unique and only known by its name to that person and maybe people who know him.
276	* NamedWeapons are weapons that are special and whose names are widely known.
277
278	!!!ICantDance vs. SucksAtDancing
279	* With ICantDance, someone knows full well that they can't dance, and are ashamed or embarrassed about the fact.
280	* Someone who SucksAtDancing genuinely ''thinks'' they can dance, but is horrible at it.
281
282	!!!IOwnThisTown vs. TakingOverTheTown vs. TakeOverTheCity
283	* In IOwnThisTown a criminal or corrupt official is so influential, they can do/get whatever they want in their territory without fear of consequences.
284	* In TakingOverTheTown a group of criminals cut off access to a town in order to go on a crime spree.
285	* In TakeOverTheCity a villain’s EvilPlan is to usurp control of a specific city, even if they could conceivably TakeOverTheWorld instead, or afterwards.
286
287	!!!IdiotBall vs. IdiotPlot
288	* The IdiotBall is when a singular character behaves ''[[OutOfCharacterMoment uncharacteristically]]'' stupidly in order for the plot to go forward at all. The full term is "Who has the idiot ball this week?"
289	* An IdiotPlot is when the plot only works if ''multiple'' characters act stupidly and would easily be resolved if any of them used critical thinking at any point.
290
291	!!!IdiotBall vs. LethallyStupid vs. NobodysThatDumb vs. NoOneElseIsThatDumb vs. TooDumbToLive vs. ATragedyOfImpulsiveness vs. WhoWouldBeStupidEnough
292	* IdiotBall is when competent characters have temporary lapses of sense because the plot requires it.
293	* LethallyStupid is when a character's poor decisions or stupid behaviour put the lives of those around them in jeopardy.
294	* NobodysThatDumb is for characters who acknowledge their own stupidity, but still maintain that even they aren't dumb enough to believe whatever they've just been told or do what they've just been asked to do.
295	* NoOneElseIsThatDumb is a way to confirm a character's identity. If no-one else would give such a ridiculous answer, it must be the party member they split from earlier.
296	* TooDumbToLive is when a character makes a poor decision or does something that endangers their own life, rather than that of someone else.
297	* ATragedyOfImpulsiveness is when a character suffers as a result of not having thought through their choices before doing it. So long as it's big enough to be meaningful, this can be great or small, and can be due to whatever reason they may not have thought carefully first - stupidity is just one route to this trope.
298	* WhoWouldBeStupidEnough is when a character describes a situation or action, and questions what kind of person would try to do such a stupid thing. Then we cut to either the sight of someone doing it or walking in announcing that they've just finished, because they are exactly the kind of person being hypothetically described before.
299
300	!!!IfJesusThenAliens vs. NoSuchThingAsSpaceJesus vs. NoSuchThingAsWizardJesus
301	* IfJesusThenAliens refers to the tendency of belief in Jesus to be associated with belief in aliens -- either both beliefs (to show that believers accept anything) or neither (to show that skeptics believe nothing).
302	* NoSuchThingAsSpaceJesus is when sci-fi beings with great power are treated as aliens, not as genuine gods.
303	* NoSuchThingAsWizardJesus is when the existence of beings as powerful as religious figures doesn't call into question the divine nature of those figures.
304	** "Space Jesus" and "Wizard Jesus" mean different things -- "Space Jesus" means a being that's in space and divine, and "Wizard Jesus" means a being that's a wizard ''instead'' of being divine.
305
306	!!!IgnoreTheFanservice vs. NotDistractedByTheSexy
307	* IgnoreTheFanservice is about an individual character who is not distracted by sexually suggestive displays, especially when they are intentional.
308	* NotDistractedByTheSexy is when a character wears {{stripperiffic}} outfits in public but ''nobody'' makes any comment about them.
309
310	!!!IJustWriteTheThing vs. LiteraryAgentHypothesis vs. WritingByTheSeatOfYourPants
311	* IJustWriteTheThing is a statement by writers that they didn't feel fully in control of how they wrote something, e.g. that they did it because it was the only way to keep the story interesting or they felt like their characters had a mind of their own. They do still admit that the story ''is'' fictional, just that it didn't go as planned.
312	* LiteraryAgentHypothesis is a [[{{Fanon}} fan theory]] where the author is an intermediary between the (real) characters and the audience. Unlike DirectLineToTheAuthor, this has no direct support from {{Canon}} or WordOfGod.
313	* WritingByTheSeatOfYourPants refers to not having very detailed outlines of where you want the plot to go and making it up as you go along. It may be the style a writer always writes, or it may be dictated by something outside the writer's control going wrong and having to change halfway-through (especially in the case of a TV or movie production, as opposed to something like a book.)
314
315	!!!IKEAErotica vs. MillsAndBoonProse
316	* Both tropes generally refer to poorly-written romantic/sexual material:
317	** IKEAErotica uses [[BeigeProse terse, dry descriptions of what's happening]] and tends to be rather boring and lacking in actual erotic appeal.
318	** MillsAndBoonProse is the stereotypical RomanceNovel style: [[PurpleProse very flowery and melodramatic descriptions]] of the characters' emotions and metaphorical descriptions of the actual deeds.
319
320	!!!ILetGwenStacyDie vs. TheLostLenore vs. TheMourningAfter
321	* ILetGwenStacyDie is when a character feels guilt over their loved one's death, for a variety of potential reasons, with the sense of responsibility for it happening being a particular thing that lingers with them and drives further instances of character development (for better or worse).
322	* TheLostLenore is when a character's loss of their loved one has a huge impact on their character simply because they loved each other that deeply.
323	* TheMourningAfter is when a character loses their loved one and, while it may diminish in severity, the impact of it and sense of loss remains with them for a very long time.
324
325	!!!ILetGwenStacyDie vs. SacrificialLion
326	* ILetGwenStacyDie is when someone important to the story and presumed to have PlotArmor dies, with their death becoming a prime motivation for the hero, e.g. a {{Love Interest\|s}} or their CoolOldGuy grandfather.
327	* A SacrificialLion is generally also a hero themselves, and someone you thought had heavy PlotArmor. However, the character dies merely for drama and less to serve as a motivation for the hero to embark on his quest. This can be someone like the FourStarBadass who is actually heroic and beloved by his men, TheLancer, the MuggleBestFriend just starting to show signs of being a BadassNormal in the making, the RetiredBadass with an unresolved arc about reconnecting with his daughter... It's likely to be a GutPunch to see them go down early in the story, and is usually a sign that AnyoneCanDie.
328
329	!!!{{Immortality}} vs. MadeOfIron vs. NighInvulnerability vs. NormallyIWouldBeDeadNow
330	* {{Immortality}} is a high-level supertrope for various types of immortality, such as TheAgeless, ResurrectiveImmortality, FromASingleCell, etc.
331	* MadeOfIron is when the normal human body survives things it really, really shouldn't.
332	* NighInvulnerability is when this is a specified design, such as a special power, magic, or science. Someone who is ''literally'' made of iron is this.
333	* NormallyIWouldBeDeadNow is when a character has sustained horrific injuries that should have killed them, but is too much of a badass to die, at least before the fight is over.
334
335	!!!ImpoverishedPatrician vs. RichesToRags
336	* An ImpoverishedPatrician is a character type; they're a member of the aristocracy who still has their title (and ''usually'' acts and is perceived as a member of the aristocracy), but they or their house lost the money in or before their lifetime.
337	* RichesToRags is more of a plot point; a wealthy character becomes poor during the story. There is some overlap, but people with no titles can still go from RichesToRags.
338
339	!!!IncurableCoughOfDeath vs. SoapOperaDisease vs. TheDiseaseThatShallNotBeNamed vs. VictorianNovelDisease
340	* The IncurableCoughOfDeath is a vaguely defined illness with few apparent symptoms aside from coughing that will lead to a character's death.
341	* A SoapOperaDisease is a vague illness that allows a character to die over a long time and milk the situation for drama.
342	* TheDiseaseThatShallNotBeNamed is a known disease with known symptoms, but is never referred to directly, usually for reasons of social taboo, but occasionally to avoid ArtisticLicenseMedicine or due to superstition on the author's part.
343	* VictorianNovelDisease refers to the way that pure-hearted Victorian characters (usually women) tend to be dying from a terminal disease that doesn't compromise their activity levels or beauty, often an idealised version of tuberculosis, as the symptoms tie into Victorian concepts of purity.
344
345	!!!{{Indexitis}} vs. IndexSyndrome
346	* {{Indexitis}} covers pages that are actually about medical conditions.
347	* IndexSyndrome covers pages whose titles sound like the names of medical conditions.
348
349	!!!InfinityMinusOneSword vs. PenultimateWeapon
350	* The InfinityMinusOneSword is a few steps less powerful than the strongest weapons in the game, but it's more readily available. There is no required plot significance.
351	* The PenultimateWeapon is hailed in-story as the best in the world, but there are other weapons that outclass it. It may overlap with the above.
352
353	!!!InferredHolocaust vs NoEndorHolocaust
354	* InferredHolocaust is a [[YMMV/HomePage subjective]] observation where, after finishing the story, the audience may realize or conclude that very bad things are in store based on the circumstances at the end, even though they're not acknowledged in the story itself, which may even end on a HappyEnding note.
355	* NoEndorHolocaust is when the story (or sometimes WordOfGod) actually shows/says that the bad effects that might be expected after a potentially catastrophic event, do not occur. Most of the time, it's not even acknowledged they ''could'' occur, you just see characters/settings happily chugging along without the expected problems. While it frequently comes up as the result of the climax of the story, any event along the way could prompt this.
356
357	!!!InSpiteOfANail vs. OntologicalInertia
358	* Contrary to some depictions, changing history might not lead to massive alterations in the new present (whether the protagonist considers this a CloseEnoughTimeline is up to them personally).
359	** For InSpiteOfANail, the emphasis is that something ''was'' changed and had consequences. However, those consequences weren't big enough in scale to massively alter the present. Some stuff changed, but it just absorbed into the general path of history.
360	** For OntologicalInertia, the emphasis is that the universe resists change to the timeline - it has ways to ensure that stuff continues to be stuff. This may be active resistance to prevent anything that could change the timeline, but it could also be ways to adjust for the change: A prevented war between nations A and B is replaced by a war between A and C, an object goes missing but a handy replacement is found, a person vanishes but someone of similar skills just happens to turn up around that time to keep things 'right'.
361
362	!!!InstrumentOfMurder vs. MusicalAssassin vs. SenselessViolins
363	* InstrumentOfMurder is when a normal weapon is disguised to look like an instrument.
364	* MusicalAssassin is when the instrument itself can be used as a weapon, and/or the music it produces can be used to attack.
365	* SenselessViolins is when a normal weapon is concealed in an instrument case.
366
367	!!!InsufferableGenius vs. TooCleverByHalf
368	* An InsufferableGenius is a very smart character with a serious attitude problem who annoys the other characters.
369	* A TooCleverByHalf character is an InsufferableGenius who also feels the need to actively prove him/herself, and as a result tends to fail spectacularly.
370
371	!!!InsufferableImbecile vs. KnowNothingKnowItAll
372	* An InsufferableImbecile is a stupid character who is also rude and arrogant; they refuse to learn from, or acknowledge, their mistakes.
373	* A KnowNothingKnowItAll annoys others by showing off their "knowledge" of completely incorrect or illogical things; they may be polite and amiable if you get them off the subject of LittleKnownFacts.
374
375	!!!InsultBackfire vs. InsultMisfire vs. ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne vs. WrongInsultOffense vs. StealthInsult
376	* In an InsultBackfire, the intended target doesn't believe that what they've just been called is insulting at all.
377	* In an InsultMisfire, the target ''does'' believe the words are insulting, but doesn't believe ''they're'' the target. They miss the point and defend someone else from the insult.
378	* In ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne, a character receives multiple insults, but only really objects to one, usually [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking the least serious one on the list]].
379	* In WrongInsultOffense, a character responds to an insult by telling the other person they picked the wrong word to use.
380	* A StealthInsult is hidden so that the target won't realize that he's been insulted.
381
382	!!!IntoxicationEnsues vs. MushroomSamba
383	* When IntoxicationEnsues, a character (un)knowingly ingests drugs and begins ''acting strangely''.
384	* In a MushroomSamba, a character (un)knowingly ingests drugs and begins ''hallucinating wildly''.
385	** Overlap is common, but a character in IntoxicationEnsues will often react strangely to real-world situations, while a character in a MushroomSamba may react perfectly rationally to nonexistent stimuli.
386
387	!!!{{Invisibility}} vs. InvisibleMainCharacter
388	* {{Invisibility}}: Invisibility as a mostly intentional, stable, recurring superpower, such as a magic ring or potion.
389	* InvisibleMainCharacter: Invisibility as a one shot situation, often uncontrolled, and rarely ever mentioned again. Often used to give an actor a vacation.
390
391	!!!IronicEcho vs. MeaningfulEcho
392	* An IronicEcho occurs when a prominent line of dialogue is repeated in an ironic context, sometimes changing the meaning to be something opposite, and sometimes showing a character's change of mind.
393	* A MeaningfulEcho occurs when a minor or easy-to-miss line of dialogue is repeated or alluded to in order to increase the emotional tension of the scene, in order to enhance the meaning the original line already had.
394
395	!!!IronWoobie vs. StoicWoobie
396	* An IronWoobie is a woobie with enough physical and psychological durability to suffer through ''anything''.
397	* A StoicWoobie is a woobie who never lets the extent of their suffering ''show''.
398
399	!!!IsometricProjection vs. ThreeQuartersView vs. TopDownView
400	* When a house appears on the screen...
401	** ...in TopDownView, the player only sees its roof.
402	** ...in ThreeQuartersView, the player sees the roof and the front wall.
403	** ...in IsometricProjection, the player sees the roof and ''two'' adjacent walls, equally foreshortened.
404
405	!!!IsThisThingOn vs. IsThisThingStillOn
406	* IsThisThingOn is about people testing ''microphones'' by saying "Is this thing on?"
407	* IsThisThingStillOn is about people being unsure whether ''any'' device is transmitting and they usually think it's not, broadcasting [[SayingTooMuch something they shouldn't]] to the other party or the audience.
408
409	!!!ItsAllMyFault vs. MyGodWhatHaveIDone
410	* In ItsAllMyFault, the character ''feels'' that it's all their fault, but it often isn't (whether because they're entirely blameless, or if it's not ''all'' their fault due to another character also being partly to blame). In cases where it ''is'' all their fault, there's clearly something they can do to make amends; they just don't realise yet.
411	* In MyGodWhatHaveIDone, it really ''is'' all the character's fault, and the situation truly ''is'' hard or impossible to be remedied by the guilty party.
412
413	!!!ItsNotSupposedToWinOscars vs. NotScreenedForCritics
414	* In ItsNotSupposedToWinOscars, people (either the work's creator or simply non-snobby fans) defend a work by saying, well, it's not supposed to win Oscars. It ''may'' still be entertaining/watchable (in any way from the mindless, but fun, SummerBlockbuster to SoBadItsGood), but is ''not'' conventional OscarBait and is getting heat from snobs.
415	* A work that is NotScreenedForCritics is just that. Critics don't even get a ''chance'' to see it before regular audiences. This is usually an indication that it's not only Not Supposed To Win Oscars, but bad enough the creator ''desperately'' needs to make some money from unsuspecting audiences before critics warn people off.
416
417	!!!ItsTheSameNowItSucks vs. TheyCopiedItSoItSucks
418	* ItsTheSameNowItSucks refers to fans saying something sucks because it's the same as a previous installment in ''its own'' franchise.
419	* TheyCopiedItSoItSucks refers to fans saying something sucks because it's the same as a previous work ''by someone else''.
420
421	!!!IWantMyJetPack vs. MagicFloppyDisk vs. OurGraphicsWillSuckInTheFuture vs. ScienceMarchesOn vs. TechnologyMarchesOn vs. {{Zeerust}} vs. ZeerustCanon
422	* IWantMyJetPack is about how a person reacts to futuristic things becoming out of date in real life.
423	* MagicFloppyDisk is about inventions that are out of date when the work was made.
424	* OurGraphicsWillSuckInTheFuture is specifically about computer displays and graphics ''in story'' that are state of the art becoming out of date when a work is seen later.
425	* ScienceMarchesOn is about science that was state of the art becoming out of date when a work is seen later.
426	* TechnologyMarchesOn is about inventions that are state of the art becoming out of date when a work is seen later.
427	* {{Zeerust}} is about something that was originally futuristic becoming out of date when the work is seen later.
428	* ZeerustCanon is about something futuristic becoming out of date, as in Zeerust, and later prequels or sequels continuing to use it even though it's out of date.
429
430	!!!IWasNeverHere vs YouDidntSeeThat
431	* IWasNeverHere is when a sneaky-type informs you that it's in your better interest to pretend they weren't there, often (though not always) because you'll never be able to prove otherwise.
432	* YouDidntSeeThat is when you catch someone at something that they don't want people to know about, and this is their way of telling you to keep quiet.
433	[[/folder]]
434

Context TropeDistinctions / GToI