To-do list:
- Move wicks for formula-breaking episodes to Formula-Breaking Episode. If there are any wicks that don't fit any of the tropes on the Something Completely Different index, remove them.here
The results of the wick check are as follows:
- Correct: 17/50, or 34%
- Subtrope: 6/50, or 12%
- Franchise-based: 4/50, or 8%
- Other misuse: 21/50, or 42%
- ZCE: 2/50, or 4%
I separated "Franchise based" from other examples because I wasn't sure if those sort of examples qualified or not. As for the subtropes, most of that usage was A Day in the Limelight. The misuse folder is the biggest one, and as I said, the usage ranges from "something weird happened in this scene" to "this is a weird turn of events for the characters" to "what a weird character". Another type of misuse I saw was for examples that outright admitted the shift wasn't a rare or unexpected occurrance.
Now, before I start coming up with solutions, I want to take a look at the subtrope list itself. Most of it's okay, but then you have things like Big-Lipped Alligator Moment, Playing Against Type, and Oddball in the Series that seem either completely out of place, or just a bit weird. BLAM especially, since it's a YMMV trope about a single moment within a work, which I'm pretty sure is misuse of the concept.
With that out of the way, how can this trope be fixed? Well... I feel like the title is at least partially responsible. As much as I love Monty Python, it's simply not a clear enough name for the definition, and the broadness of it leads to a lot of decay. Something as simple as slapping "Episode" at the end might work wonders, turning it into Something Completely Different Episode. A drier but likely more clear idea is Unusual Situation Episode. I also want to clarify whether or not this is something that can happen on a more meta scale, and to remove the misused subtropes from the list. My other idea is to do the opposite and expand this to cover any weird, out-of-place thing in a story. I'm not as sold on that idea, but it'd be less work.
Edited by GastonRabbit on May 16th 2022 at 5:38:24 AM
Hmm... maybe we could spin off the current meaning into a new trope under a different name and convert Something Completely Different into an index?
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
I think we could do that by simply moving the definition to a new name (with a sandbox if necessary) instead of launching a new trope from scratch. In contrast to how launching a new trope from scratch with the original definition would be required for Hilarity Ensues and Up To Eleven because those two have five-digit wick counts, Something Completely Different has less wicks than Ear Worm did before its YMMV wicks were removed when it was made IUEO (I think Ear Worm had at least 8,000 wicks before its YMMV wicks were removed), and Ear Worm's cleanup finished without clocking out.
Edited by GastonRabbit on Oct 22nd 2021 at 2:49:51 PM
Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
I am surprised "Fits a subtrope" didn't list any Out-of-Genre Experience examples.
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
Do you see any on the check I should've moved over there? Or are you more surprised that I found none at all? When it came to the subtropes I really tried my best to identify them but it's not always easy.
Currently Working On: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
The second. Just something to keep in mind during cleanup.
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
So, any thoughts?
Currently Working On: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Professional Wick Checker
![[tup]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Thumbs_up_emoticon_3268.png "[thumb up]"){kind=small}
to converting this into an index.
I also thought of Formula-Breaking Episode and Breaking The Strictly Formula as names for the "new trope".
Index sounds good, and I like Formula-Breaking Episode for a name.
Jawbreakers on sale for 99¢
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
Formula-Breaking Episode is my favorite so far.
Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
I'm good with both suggestions!
Edited by WarJay77 on Oct 25th 2021 at 2:29:42 PM
Currently Working On: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
I still prefer Formula-Breaking Episode, but I thought I'd throw Formula Breakout Episode and Formula Busting Episode out there as a couple more suggestions.
Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
I like Formula-Breaking Episode, but it might be confusable with an episode marking a permanent change in the status quo, like a Wham Episode.
I think we should convert Something Completely Different into an index for departures from the norm in fiction, such as Big-Lipped Alligator Moment and Playing Against Type, while we use the current meaning for a new trope under a different name with tropes like Alien Episode and Cruise Episode as subtropes.
Professional Wick Checker
Two separate pages? Sure, I like it, but would that really solve the misuse issue?
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
It probably will, since the current name would be moved to the index and the current trope would be given a clearer name.
Currently Working On: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
So, I guess I'll just fire up a crowner with the suggested actions. There hasn't been much discussion so this should be quick.
I made it single-prop because only one idea has really been suggested. Tried to make a page action one, but the "split" option was dependent on the "redefine" one anyway.
Here.
Hi
And now for a crowner hook.
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
I posted a bulletin about it on ATT.
Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
Is it safe to call?
Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
Professional Wick Checker
Yes. I hollered a mod.
How sweet it is
Yep, time to call for convert and split.
she/her | TRS needs your help! | Contributor of Trope Report
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
Alright~
We need names for the split-off trope. What did we have so far?
Currently Working On: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
There seems to be a preference for Formula-Breaking Episode. Maybe Odd Episode?
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
Odd Episode sounds too similar to Bizarro Episode. I previously gave Formula Busting Episode and Formula Breakout Episode as alternatives to Formula-Breaking Episode (I'm aware that they just replace "Breaking" with a different word starting with B).
Edited by GastonRabbit on Nov 1st 2021 at 4:52:35 AM
Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
Crown Description:
A previous decision decided to rename Something Completely Different. What is the new name to be?
To-do list:
The results of the wick check are as follows:
I separated "Franchise based" from other examples because I wasn't sure if those sort of examples qualified or not. As for the subtropes, most of that usage was A Day in the Limelight. The misuse folder is the biggest one, and as I said, the usage ranges from "something weird happened in this scene" to "this is a weird turn of events for the characters" to "what a weird character". Another type of misuse I saw was for examples that outright admitted the shift wasn't a rare or unexpected occurrance.
Now, before I start coming up with solutions, I want to take a look at the subtrope list itself. Most of it's okay, but then you have things like Big-Lipped Alligator Moment, Playing Against Type, and Oddball in the Series that seem either completely out of place, or just a bit weird. BLAM especially, since it's a YMMV trope about a single moment within a work, which I'm pretty sure is misuse of the concept.
With that out of the way, how can this trope be fixed? Well... I feel like the title is at least partially responsible. As much as I love Monty Python, it's simply not a clear enough name for the definition, and the broadness of it leads to a lot of decay. Something as simple as slapping "Episode" at the end might work wonders, turning it into Something Completely Different Episode. A drier but likely more clear idea is Unusual Situation Episode. I also want to clarify whether or not this is something that can happen on a more meta scale, and to remove the misused subtropes from the list. My other idea is to do the opposite and expand this to cover any weird, out-of-place thing in a story. I'm not as sold on that idea, but it'd be less work.
Edited by GastonRabbit on May 16th 2022 at 5:38:24 AM
Currently Working On: Incorruptible Pure Pureness