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The End Of The World As We Know It
alt title(s): End Of The World As We Know It

That's great, it starts with an earthquake.
Birds and snakes, an aeroplane,
and Lenny Bruce is not afraid.
— R.E.M., "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)"

This is what will happen if the heroes don't stop the Big Bad or the Omnicidal Maniac from doing its nasty work. It can be either supernatural or superscience, depending on the villain, but in either case the bad guy must be beaten down and his toys broken in order to save the planet, or the universe, depending on the focus of the story.

Usually it's figurative — expressed as "merely" the death of humankind, the obliteration of Civilization, or its subjugation to aliens, for example — rather than the literal rendering of the planet down to gravel.

This is a common trope in Speculative Fiction, horror and over-the-top espionage shows, as well as many anime series. It may serve as a prequel to an After The End series. May also include Cosy Catastrophe and/or Scavenger World elements. It's also very common in video games, where it's occasionally unavoidable, sometimes unforgivingly occurring halfway through the game.

If the heroes are slated to succeed in preventing the End, they (and the audience) may be treated to a detailed preview of what's coming.

Inevitably draws the suitably heroic into a Saving The World plot. See Apocalypse How for various types of End Of the World. For when Take Our Word For It simply won't do, Apocalypse Wow is this trope given dramatic form.


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