Can a work have multiple Big Lipped Alligator Moment

I'm of the opinion that Big-Lipped Alligator Moment is so broad and hard to define as to be arguably pointless. However, as long as it exists, there are smaller things that can be done to improve it.

One potential issue with it that I've noticed is that certain works will have a whole list of BLAMS. For example The Cat in the Hat and Gremlins 2 have 5 listed each, the trope page claims that Battle for Dream Island "has plenty," and Clarence has an entire page, which lists 13.

Is it still a BLAM if it keeps happening? It's not unexpected at that point. It's just a weird work with many weird moments.

Edited by Hellboy33 on May 25th 2022 at 6:24:25 AM

We actually have a wick check for BLAM here, but the problem is certainly not that it's "too broad". Indeed, it's not a term we made up with, so we can't just change it as we see fit.

Does that wick check not demonstrate that it's being applied too broadly? 30% correct usage is not great. And it being a pre-existing term doesn't mean we can't specify our own definition. From memory of when I watched the videos years ago, they never provided an exact definition to the level of detail we require.

Regardless, my main point with this thread was to ask if a work can have multiple BLA Ms. If they have to be unexpected, don't they stop being unexpected the more there are?

It's being misused for sure, but the actual criteria isn't too broad.

I think a work can have multiple BLAM, but it depends. A series with several seasons worth of episodes is one thing, a standalone movie is another.

Edited by WarJay77 on May 25th 2022 at 12:00:58 PM

Perhaps a new trope can be made for works with multiple BLAMs: Big Lipped Alligator Momentum (to imply the fact that the work runs on Big-Lipped Alligator Moments)

Big Lipped Alligator Momentum is a play on Big-Lipped Alligator Moment

Edited by Nen_desharu on May 25th 2022 at 12:07:57 PM

In a singular work like a movie I would say two at most could be considered before it has an impact on the work. A Big-Lipped Alligator Moment is supposed to be at odds with the general tone and too many starts to overwrite the tone with its own. We have a lot of other tropes that deal with excessive Mind Screw and Non Sequitur, most of which are already noted on the page.

A TV show, on the other hand, may have a lot more simply because 100+ episodes is a lot more space to include them.

I recall a long time ago it was a main page trope, as the criteria appear objective, but it became evident "strange in context" is too much of an opening for editors to not use it properly.

Edited by EmeraldSource on May 26th 2022 at 3:49:51 AM