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Chosen One Syndrome
I've seen a lot of Tropes that relate to this, but I'm not seeing a, how shall I put this, Definitive Article. It's like Designated Hero, Moral Myopia, Protagonist-Centered Morality, The Unfettered, and a few others all rolled into one. The Hero is somehow special, and therefore (in their own eyes, at least) always right. Therefore, they can do whatever they want, even if it's what the "evil enemy" is doing, because it's bad when the bad guys do it, because they're bad, but when the good guy does it it's good, because the good guy is special. Also, since The Chosen One is special and always right, they don't have to care about the consequences of their actions or take responsibility for them. And since The Chosen One is synonymous with the Objective, Universal, Hard-Coded-Into-The-Fabric-Of-Reality definition of Good, everyone who likes The Chosen One and does what The Chosen One says is good, and anyone who doesn't is Evil. You'll probably say this is just a Mary Sue, but I'm thinking of when the character is meant as a threat or a danger to themselves, rather than actually being right.
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Do we have a trope for something like this? It's appeared in both anime and video games already.
In games and shows with Elemental Rock-Paper-Scissors, Dragons have a tendency to be weak against Dragon based attacks.
For example, in Monster Hunter, dragon-looking monsters and elder dragons are always weakest against an element named "Dragon" *
For a non-video game example, in Dragon Crisis, the only thing that could injure a dragon and counter everything it can do is a small blade made from a dragon.
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A character is giving a Rousing Speech. A large version of their national flag, usually American, appears behind them, making the background behind them nothing but stars and stripes. It adds to the general heroicness and sincerity of the speech. I've seen a few examples ,but I know there's more. It happened in Toy Story 2, with Buzz and in the Phineas and Ferb episode "The Lizard Whisperer" with Ferb.
openNo Title Anime
An energy attack or elemental attack shaped like an animal (usually magical).
- It's not Animal Battle Aura. This trope can be made of energy, but occupies physical space and has a purpose besides looking scary.
- It's not Summon Magic or Mon. This trope is just a clumb of mass/energy given shape (and a little bit of awareness, sometimes). It wasn't summoned and doesn't have a physical equivalent anywhere.
Examples:
- Naruto: Black Panther
- Zatch Bell: Baou Zakeruga
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Looking for a 'vision modes' trope, usually featured in games. For example in AVP 2 you have night vision, electromagnetic vision and thermal imaging. In splinter cell: Pandora tomorrow you have night vision, thermal imaging, movement tracking, and E.M.F vision. Usually they measure something that we can actually detect by other means, unlike Aura Vision.
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Is there a trope for the fact that the number of giant public portraits of a leader is usually inversely proportional to the freedom of the population?
Ex. This trope + Sukharno was a major plot point of The Year Of Living Dangerously, Kim Jong Il does it a whole lot in real life, Mubarak even did it a bit, and any number of No Celebrities Were Harmed versions of dictators in fiction.
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I would call this "Visiting Psychologist." It's similar to "Sensitivity Training."
A visiting psychologist talks to all the main characters who react in predictable or unpredictable ways. Some are scared that s/he will be found wanting. All the neuroses and tics come out. Some are defiant and belligerent, some study up to try to say the "right" thing, some refuse to even be interviewed and are badgered by the boss until they comply.
At the end, the psychologist decides everyone's okay.
Examples:
Homicide, Life on the Street: "See No Evil" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/See_No_Evil_%28Homicide:_Life_on_the_Street%29
NCIS: "A Man Walks Into A Bar" http://www.ncisfanwiki.com/page/8.14+A+Man+Walks+Into+A+Bar...
I believe there was an episode of M*A*S*H where Alan Arkin played the visiting psych.
All episodes of The Sopranos.
openNo Title Anime
One of the character's main traits is that she sees beauty everywhere. Her child-like innocence is commented on, and people talk about how she notices the beauty that the more jaded characters seem to miss. I can't think of the trope name for it, and "Innocent Eyes" didn't turn up any results...
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so i just got a Slap-Slap-Kiss example deleted because it's apparently more specific than two people having a fight/argue-but-also-romantic dynamic. looking over at the trope description, i guess i can see how it would be more about a specific moment (although i insist it doesn't have to be literal slapping then kissing).
anyway, do we have a trope for what is coloquially known as "pulling pigtails"? basically people who tease/annoy/hurt someone else because they like them. first thing that pops into my mind is Belligerent Sexual Tension, but that seems a little... strong. the scenario i have in mind isn't always sexual, just this person wanting to get the other person's attention even if it's negative attention. or conversely, someone who doesn't know how to express affection through conventional means and resorts to teasing/taunting/punches&kicks. (i guess this character could be termed Tsundere-ish).
any input on this?
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Is there a trope for when a character's occupation is purely arbitrary? As in you have to wonder why such a person would want this job in the first place, let alone pursue the education required, and why anyone in their right mind would hire them. Their competence at said job is either an Informed Attribute or more likely never addressed.
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Is there a villainous version of the Rousing Speech? I'm trying to find a good place to put Lord Recluse's speech that plays on loop in Grandville. It goes like this.
"I must therefore rely on all of you to spread the word of Lord Recluse's vision. A vision of a glorious future, in which man is not encumbered by the desire for truth, peace, or justice. A future where you no longer must obey others, where you must no longer bow down to those who deem themselves your superiors, a world in which you can finally say "No more." No longer will you have to listen to those who tell you that you must earn what you wish, that you must work hard to achieve your goals. You will have the strength to take what you desire. Through my way, the way of villainy, you can have what you want now. You can leave the weak lying in your wake as you grasp with both hands the glorious future of havok. The heroes are doomed! Join me now, or you will suffer the same fate that awaits all those who defy me. I, Lord Recluse, shall cover this world in darkness!"
Any ideas?
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Is there a specific trope for the scary as hell good guy? This kind that makes his allies shiver and/or say, "Glad he's on my side!" or "Great person to be around, but believe me, never piss him off. Really." The scary side need not be immediately apparent, just anyone who knows the hero well enough is really, really glad they are on the side of good. Such a character either has a bit of a dark side, or is just that powerful. The gloves only come off from time to time, causing everyone, including sometimes the viewers to shudder in fear of the hero. If one of the worst things that could possibly happen is for the hero to become evil, it's probably this trope. Especially applies when the hero is a genuinely good, cuddly, Eldritch Abomination. Can overlap but is distinct from Dark Is Not Evil and Bad Powers Good Guys Not Superpowered Evil Side unless the evil side just means the character is no longer holding back against his enemies.
Examples:
- Angel
- Superman in some guises
- The Doctor from Doctor Who - The real reason why The Family Of Blood and The Waters Of Mars made fans hide behind the sofa.
- Too many anime characters to count
- Any case of a sweet and friendly character who also happens to the exception to the rule in that aspect, compared to the rest of his race.
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Is there a trope for useful stupidity? I don't mean Obfuscating Stupidity, I mean Character A is smart and uses the obvious stupidity of his ally Character B to his advantage when dealing with their antagonists and obstacles.
Ex. In A Scotsman In Egypt, the Scottish diplomat Gilles lets his brash young and dumb apprentice Gordon tell the Pope things that Gilles could never get away with saying, and then smooths it over with "Your Holiness, I apologize profusely for my associate."
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I'm not sure if I just can't find it or if T Vtropes doesn't have a name for it yet. The trope I am thinking of is when somebody who used to be a big bad scary villain, but, prior to or within the first couple of episodes, ends up defanged and much more sympathetic AND ends up forced to hang around the good guy because the good guy is the only one who can restore their power, AND this is pretty much the basis for their entire relationship if not the major plot of the series. The first of the best two examples is Ryoko from Tenchi Muyo (she went on killing spree pre-story, but by the end of the first episode she's a sweet looking girl sleeping in his bed, and spends the rest of the series trying to get all her gems back (and sleeping with Tenchi, but that's not related to this trope). The next best example is Kusanagi from Blue Seed. He is forced to hang around Momiji because he lost his seed and now needs her help, and this lasts for pretty much the entire series IIRC, at least in the anime. Another good example though is Inuyasha from Inuyasha. Big scary demon in the opening episode, but he gets seemingly neutered and stuck with Kagome as he tries to find a way to become a big scary dude again. Basicly, a villain is trying to return to power, and therefor works WITH the hero/heroine at least an entire season, instead of a oneshot deal.
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Is there a trope for when an inventor becomes attached to his inventions and calls them his babies like Cyborg from Teen Titans and his t-car or Tech E Coyote from Loonatics Unleashed? Not exactly Cargo Ship but the character treats his inventions like his children.
Edited by MarkLungoopenNo Title
I think there's a trope like this, I just don't know what it's called. You know when characters are so prudish that it's like being touched is their Berserk Button? Men visibly shudder and women can throw guys through a wall. And sometimes it's doesn't have to be Thanks For The Mamaries; sometimes it's just an innocent display of affection or even just skin contact. Probably applies to extreme germophobes.
Anyone know if that trope exists and what it's called?
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What is it called when a character has a widely-known personality in fanon, but that personality doesn't have a firm basis in canon? But it still fits them and isn't a simplification. It's not Word of Dante because there wasn't a single work that actually created it, but everyone still uses the non-canon personality.
While there's a mind control trope and a love redeems trope is there any tropes where romantic love specifically saves a person from mind control.