Markup View

Author: MorganWick

Jul 22nd 2012 at 2:23:55 AM

"This a general supertrope for characters who are strangers to the other characters and the audience, such that their relationships to the other characters (and their place in the plot, specifically, friend or foe) are unclear, particularly when first introduced."

The name makes me think first and foremost of someone who is unknown ''to the characters'', and doesn't seem to include characters who are known to other characters but not the audience, though it can certainly be read that way if you squint. The Mark Twain story in question is of the former type, and so it's useless to say "well this is the trope namer" as a defense. MysteryCharacter might work better.

The laconic might be more problematic. It makes me think of a side, possibly represented by a MagnificentBastard or TheChessmaster, who's neutral to all sides of a conflict and instead manipulates those sides from the shadows to further unknown ends. I think we have that, though I'm too lazy to look it up, but I'm not even sure it's on the list or whether it even belongs there.

At least the laconic won't be relevant after the trope is launched, though. The description is so wordy it obfuscates the trope; the ''second'' time I read it I wondered if something like [[StarWars Luke's father]] would count. It tries too hard to break it down mechanistically and actually comes close to over-emphasizing the audience angle, if such is even possible. I think a good chunk can be excised to an analysis page.