This trope and its examples really need to decide whether it's only about situations involving Becoming the Mask or other misunderstandings as well.
What's the difference between this and Plot-Mandated Friendship Failure?
Hide / Show RepliesPlot-Mandated Friendship Failure is when the relationship between two characters reaches a breaking point and the protagonist is left by themselves. Third-Act Misunderstanding is when there's a misunderstanding that causes the Plot-Mandated Friendship Failure to happen.
So, if Alice thinks Bob's been cheating on her, but he wasn't really, that's a Third-Act Misunderstanding. If Alice leaves Bob because he's been acting like a Jerkass, that's a Plot-Mandated Friendship Failure.
This is only 1/2 of the trope combo- this is effect, do we have a trope for the cause? This seems like the trope of what happens when the otherwise inconsequential lie comes out ("yes, you just saved my life fifty times... but you lied about your middle name, I can't trust you!"), do we have a trope for the inconsequential lie itself? Some combination of white lie, idiot ball and because the plot demands it?
I just wanted to give kudos to whoever recorded this trope. It's on point as hell. Most romance "comedies" have this plot structure.
stay golden
Well there's finally a song for this trope, should it be made into a video example or not?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH6-8DR2AyA
Edited by WolfofBlades Everything Sucks Forever