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4%% Please see the [[JustForFun/TropesOfLegendDiscussion discussion page]] before adding new entries.
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7%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1382496648087060100
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10[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tropes_of_legend_8050.png]]
11[[caption-width-right:350: [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Did you think we meant]]...? [[VisualPun Oh no!]] [[Film/Legend1985 Look here!]]]]
12
13->[[AC:''These'' are the tropes which have been handed down from the ancients.\
14''These'' are the tropes our forefathers gave their lives to defend.\
15''These'' are the tropes we use and take for granted every day, oblivious to their true significance.\
16''These''... are the ''[[red:Tropes of Legend]]!'']]
17
18'''Note:''' TV Tropes is currently unable to play music from the web page. For optimum viewing experience, hum "[[StandardSnippet/AlsoSprachZarathustra Thus Spake Zarathustra]]" while reading below.[[labelnote:Alternatively]]Open [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLuW-GBaJ8k this]] in a new tab, if you’re too lazy to hum. Just be careful about the ad.[[/labelnote]]
19
20Here is a list of the most widely-known and oft-referenced [[{{Trope}} tropes]] we have on this entire site. If you’re new to Website/TVTropes, this list will provide a good basis for understanding our… erm… [[JustForFun/TVTropesWillRuinYourVocabulary unique vocabulary]].
21
22On the other hand, if you’re a veteran troper and you still aren’t familiar with all of these entries, this list might prove to be quite informative.
23
24Most of the individual mediums have their own special vocabularies and tropes -- see those sections for details. A few examples from each have propagated beyond their home subcultures.
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26See also JustForFun/TropeOverdosed (for the equivalent in shows), OmnipresentTropes, Administrivia/TVTropesGlossary, CanonicalListOfSubtleTropeDistinctions, Administrivia/PotholeMagnet. For Tropes Of Legend by sheer numerical weight, see OverdosedTropes.
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28Also see PetPeeveTrope for when ubiquitous tropes are detested by many and SugarWiki/FavoriteTrope for when they're beloved by many instead.
29
30----
31!!Tropes:
32%%
33%% Alphabetical order, please.
34%%
35[[index]]
36* ActionGirl: Female {{action hero}}es are popular, even with TheSmurfettePrinciple.
37* AnAesop: The moral of the story. If it seems like people are frequently critical of these, it's because they tend to be {{anvilicious}}.
38* AffablyEvil: {{Villains}} that are genuinely genial and polite.
39** FauxAffablyEvil: The [[SubvertedTrope subversion]] of AffablyEvil; a villain acts polite, but only to lure their addressees into their trap.
40* AllJustADream: The previous scene(s) were a DreamSequence.
41* {{All There in the Manual}}: Information not actually mentioned within the work, but only found in other material related to it.
42* AlphaBitch: The "queen bee" in a {{high school}} setting who makes the protagonist's life hell.
43* AndIMustScream: Being entrapped in a literal or symbolic way that leads to intense suffering. Death would be preferrable, and [[WhoWantsToLiveForever sometimes it isn't an option]].
44* AntiHero: A hero who uses [[CombatPragmatist decidedly unheroic tactics]] and/or [[GoodIsNotNice has a bad attitude]].
45** AntiVillain: The inversion; a villain who has heroic intentions and/or [[NobleDemon has a honorable personality.]]
46* AppliedPhlebotinum: Any technical explanation of a [[NarrativeDevices plot device]], no matter how [[TechnoBabble complicated or smart-sounding]], that is practically synonymous with "[[ClarkesThirdLaw works by magic]]".
47* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: Finishing a list of terrible things with an innocuous one, sometimes humorously implied to be somehow just as bad as the rest.
48* AuthorAppeal: Inclusion of story elements partly or totally because they relate to some interest, {{fetish}}, or kink of the author's.
49* AxCrazy: A character who is psychologically unstable and clearly a danger to others.
50* BackFromTheDead: A character ''was'' dead but they're better now.
51* BadassNormal: A Badass without MagicAndPowers in a world where these exist.
52* BatmanGambit: A plan based on manipulation, derived from others' predictable behavior.
53* BerserkButton: Something that sets off a seemingly normal person into [[UnstoppableRage rage and fury]].
54* BewareTheNiceOnes: Push the buttons of a nice character too much, and they may break out in anger even scaring the BigBad.
55* BeyondTheImpossible: Breaking the story's internal logic, either accidentally or deliberately.
56* BigBad: The [[ManBehindTheMan bad guy behind all the other bad guys.]] [[OverdosedTropes The single most-linked trope]] on this site.
57** BigGood: The inverse; the [[ManBehindTheMan good guy behind all the other good guys.]] The heroic counterpart of the BigBad.
58* BigDamnHeroes: The good guys arrive just in time to save the day.
59* BigNo: Shouting "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!", usually in frustration or despair.
60* {{Bishonen}}: A pretty boy from {{anime}}[=/=]{{manga}}.
61* BittersweetEnding: An ending that mixes happiness and sadness, such as [[PyrrhicVictory victory at a high cost]].
62* BlackComedy: Comedy based on serious topics, like [[DeathAsComedy murder]] or [[BlackComedyRape rape]].
63* BlatantLies: Obvious untruths. ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.
64* BodyHorror: Deeply disturbing anatomical anomalies of all sorts.
65* {{Bookends}}: When a story begins and ends under similar circumstances, with those events tied together somehow.
66* {{Brainwashed}}: A character is hypnotized into doing something against their will, but that something isn't necessarily violent.
67* BrainwashedAndCrazy: A character is hypnotized into attacking or destroying someone or something against their will.
68* BreakTheCutie: A sweet, lovable character is put through hell.
69** BreakTheHaughty: The opposite; an arrogant/prideful character is broken by circumstance.
70** BrokenBird: The usual result, a TroubledButCute character noted for emotional detachment.
71* BuffySpeak: A fouled-up explanation of something by someone intelligent enough to understand it but not articulate/mature/educated/attentive enough to describe it, usually using overly simple language construction. A bit of a self-demonstrating title for the trope.
72* ButtMonkey: A character who becomes the butt of every joke or otherwise goes through hell, PlayedForLaughs.
73* ContinuityNod: A reference to a previous event.
74** CallBack: Said previous event is brought back with plot relevance.
75** MythologyGag: An oft-humorous reference to a previous work, either in the same franchise or by the same creators.
76* CallToAdventure: The adventure [[TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive comes to find the hero.]]
77* {{Canon}}: Plot, characterizations, and story elements that actually happened.
78** {{Fanon}}: Canon that isn't — plot, characterizations, and story elements that did not officially happen, but that the fans believe is sufficiently supported or implied by what did to "count".
79* CaptainObvious: A character stating the blatantly obvious.
80* CardCarryingVillain: A character who takes {{pride}} in his evil nature and even openly gloats about it.
81* CharacterCatchphrase: A phrase constantly said by a character.
82* CharacterDevelopment: Change in characterization over the course of a narrative.
83* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: A character who has superhuman-like abilities after extreme training.
84* ChekhovsGun: A story element that is inconspicuously introduced now, but becomes extremely significant later.
85* TheChessmaster: A character who creates complex schemes in order to manipulate situations in their favor, and gets involved into various events to make said schemes work.
86** ManipulativeBastard: A character (villainous or otherwise) who gets what he or she wants by manipulating other people.
87** MagnificentBastard: Chessmaster + Manipulative Bastard, with a lot of charisma to boot. They can manipulate about everyone else to reach his goal and get away with it. This {{archetype}} usually is, well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a bastard]], and yet we still love it.
88* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: A character who has a spacey personality and, while not necessarily (though often) stupid, usually lapses into odd NonSequitur sayings or actions.
89* ComicallyMissingThePoint: A humorous situation where someone completely fails to realize what it is the other person is trying to convey, despite how obvious it is.
90* CompositeCharacter: A character combining traits and plot-lines that two (or more) had in the source material.
91* CrapsackWorld: A place which is really horrible to live in.
92* CruelAndUnusualDeath: A death that is both unique and horrifically painful.
93* CurbStompBattle: A completely one-sided fight that could potentially descend into a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown.
94* DamselInDistress: A female character who continually needs others to rescue her.
95* DarkerAndEdgier: The tendency of shows to try to give themselves a new feel that is [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin darker and edgier.]] Usually involves trying to add more angst, more violence, or more rage from the characters, and putting them into more dangerous situations.
96* DeadHorseTrope: A trope that has been ''so'' overdone, analyzed, and mocked that its different varieties or parodies have had to be classified and given names. (Most {{cliche}}s are simply {{Discredited Trope}}s.)
97* DeadpanSnarker: A very sarcastic character. Real original.
98* DealWithTheDevil: A character trading their soul or a similar substitute in exchange for benefits.
99* {{Deconstruction}}: Playing a trope in the way it would supposedly work in the real world, usually as criticism.
100* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: Repetitively repetitive repetition that is repeatably repeated on repeat.
101* {{Determinator}}: A character who ''never'' gives up.
102* DeusExMachina: An unlikely or [[WritingPitfallIndex poorly-written]] element inserted into the story to specifically fix a narrative problem.
103* DisproportionateRetribution: When a character pulls a slight offense to another, and the other plots a revenge taken up to eleven.
104* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: Is this suggestive of anything else other than what it actually is? And by that, we generally mean something sexual.
105* DownerEnding: No happy ending here — [[EverybodyDiesEnding everyone dies]] or at least lives on unhappily.
106* TheDragon: A character who represents the penultimate challenge to the heroes, acting as a gatekeeper to the FinalBattle.
107* DrivenToSuicide: Events lead a character to kill themself.
108* EarWorm: Someone gets a song stuck in their mind.
109* EldritchAbomination: [[StarfishAliens Incomprehensible aliens]] or demons from beyond, like Franchise/{{Cthulhu|Mythos}}.
110* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: Civilization or life (or sometimes [[EarthShatteringKaboom the entire planet]]) getting destroyed.
111* EpilepticTrees: [[WildMassGuessing Wild, off-the-wall fan theories and speculation]] about a show's murkier plot points and characterizations.
112** {{Jossed}}: The WordOfGod shoots the theories down.
113** IKnewIt: When a particular theory turns out to be true.
114* EvenEvilHasStandards: A case that has a villain reject another, terrible villainous deed due to his/her dislike for it.
115* EverybodyDiesEnding: Just about every character dies at the end of the work, main cast or not.
116* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: When the title tells you almost everything about something; for example, the film ''Film/SnakesOnAPlane''. Also used for TropeLaunchPad entries that are exactly what they say on the title of the suggestion.
117* ExecutiveMeddling: When a work is altered solely because the higher management of the company wants it to be changed.
118* {{Expy}}: Short for "Exported Character", this is a character who is a deliberate and unambiguous copy of a different earlier character from another work. (Unfortunately, it is frequently misused; a number of tropers tend to use it to label characters that are merely similar in some ways and not intentional copies.)
119* FanNickname: A name given to a character by fan communities.
120* {{Fanservice}}: Material added to please the fans. Traditionally, this meant anything a casual viewer might not get, but now almost always means titillating or sexual content.
121** MrFanservice: Male characters whose business is {{Fanservice}}.
122** MsFanservice: Same as above, but with female characters.
123* FateWorseThanDeath: They would rather die than suffer like this.
124* FauxSymbolism: Inclusion of various unnecessary religious, philosophical, and historical allusions with the purpose of lending an air of sophistication to a work.
125* FinaglesLaw: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Due to itself, often mis-attributed as "Murphy's Law."
126* FiveManBand: A stock heroic team with five {{characters}} whose characterizations and interactions with each other fall into specific different and balanced roles.
127## TheLeader: The one you can count on to take charge of {{the team}}'s operations. Often overlaps with TheHero.
128## TheLancer: The ''equal and opposite'' of the Leader ([[RedOniBlueOni i.e.]], if the Leader is [[StockShonenHero spirited and friendly]], the Lancer will be [[StockShonenRival serious and aloof]]). Often overlaps with TheRival.
129## TheBigGuy: The brawn of the outfit who does the heavy-lifting and heavy-hitting.
130## TheSmartGuy: The brains of the outfit who can think his/her way out of any jam.
131## TheHeart: The one who rounds out and unifies the team. Tends to be a woman, [[TheSmurfettePrinciple and the only one of the team]], or the most feminine of the bunch. Often overlaps with TheFace.
132* {{Flanderization}}: Simplifying formerly complex characters by magnifying one of their character traits and making it their sole defining characteristic.
133* {{Foil}}: A character who highlights another character's trait(s), usually by contrast.
134* {{Foreshadowing}}: A moment that hints at what will happen later in the story.
135* The FourthWall: The metaphorical wall between the characters and the audience. Most fictional characters have no idea that they're in a story.
136** BreakingTheFourthWall: Exceptions to the above. Scenes where characters demonstrate they ''are'' aware of the audience and the fact that they're in a story.
137** NoFourthWall: Series and characters for which breaking the fourth wall is the rule, not the exception.
138* FreudianExcuse: When the writers give an explaination on why a certain character (such as a villain) is the way they are (e.g., [[AbusiveParents when he was a child his father would beat him]]).
139* FreudWasRight: Characters see sex where it isn't.
140* FromBadToWorse: Just when you thought it couldn't possibly get any worse... it does.
141* GenkiGirl: A ridiculously energetic female character.
142* GenreBlindness: A character makes mistakes that indicate they have never seen anything related to the {{genre}} they're in, and they never learn from their experience; e.g., [[LetsSplitUpGang "characters splitting up while exploring a haunted house"]] is one of the most recognized uses of the trope out there, indicating {{Horror}} Movie GenreBlindness.
143** GenreSavvy: The opposite of the above; a character has an understanding of tropes relevant to their situation and uses their {{genre}} knowledge to their advantage.
144* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: The act of sneaking seemingly obscene or vulgar material past network censors and/or MoralGuardians.
145* GilliganCut: A character protests vehemently against doing something crazy and absurd, and the very next scene has the character doing just that. [[HumbleBeginnings The very first trope on the wiki.]]
146* AGodAmI: A delusion where someone thinks oneself to be a god or universal ruler.
147* GoodIsNotNice: [[HeroTropes Heroes]] who are rude and unpleasant despite their noble and benevolent intentions.
148** GoodIsNotSoft: An interesting inversion; heroes who are amicable to their peers and addressees, but acts downright vicious to evildoers out of protection or necessity.
149* {{Gorn}}: Gratuitous and graphic violence that can be described as "gore porn".
150* HandWave: A brief explanation is offered that isn't actually an explanation, but gets the question out of the way so the story can work.
151* HappyEnding: The dilemma is solved, and everyone lives on HappilyEverAfter.
152* HeelFaceTurn: When a character switches sides from bad to good.
153** FaceHeelTurn: The opposite; a character switches sides from good to bad.
154* HeroicBSOD: Some horrible event shocks the hero and makes him incapable of anything for a while.
155* HeroicSacrifice: A character makes a great sacrifice to save others.
156* TheHero: The main character who is the hero of the story or other media, resolving to defeat the BigBad.
157* TheHerosJourney: The standard story formula, starting with the CallToAdventure.
158* HilarityEnsues: The consequences of a character's actions in a {{comedy}} show.
159* HotBlooded: In {{shonen|demographic}} anime, everyone fights with BURNING PASSION!
160* HoYay: A scene or event between two characters of the same gender which implies sexual tension between them.
161** FoeRomanceSubtext: Same thing, but between foes (not necessarily of the same gender)
162* HumongousMecha: Giant humanoid robots, usually from {{anime}} or {{manga}}.
163* IdiotBall: A metaphorical object held by a (normally reasonable) character which causes them to create a central {{plot}} {{conflict}} out of their own stupidity.
164** IdiotPlot: A {{plot}} that only functions by all of the characters acting like idiots.
165* {{Jerkass}}: A character who is offensively obnoxious.
166** JerkWithAHeartOfGold: An obnoxious fellow who's actually a NiceGuy underneath.
167*** JerkWithAHeartOfJerk: The subversion; an obnoxious fellow who's odious through and through.
168* JustInTime: Salvation that arrives just in time to create a sense of suspense.
169* JustifiedTrope: The work offers an explanation for the use of an otherwise illogical trope; can be anything from a HandWave to a perfectly reasonable explanation.
170* KarmaHoudini: A character who gets off scot-free despite committing immoral actions (usually a villain; heroic examples are often YMMV)
171* KickTheDog: An act done or statement made by a character in order to garner [[HateSink hate from the audience]] and illustrate their unlikable inner nature.
172** PetTheDog: A kind act reveals that an outwardly mean character is tender and caring inside.
173** ShootTheDog: A morally gray deed caused by a character against his own wishes just because it needs to be done for the sake of everyone else.
174** MoralEventHorizon: A deed so cruel, evil, and despicable that it irrevocably damns the character in the eyes of the audience. Often happens to set up a CompleteMonster.
175* KilledOffForReal: A character dies and doesn't come back.
176* KnightTemplar: A character convinced of his own righteousness even when [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope crossing the line]] and committing villainous deeds.
177* LampshadedDoubleEntendre: A character pointing out that he's saying a DoubleEntendre, if you know what I mean...
178* LampshadeHanging: When a writer acknowledges to the audience that a plot event is implausible or that they are using a trope. In the wiki, frequently used as a verb; e.g., "lampshading" or "lampshaded". This trope is so legendary, it was made into the TVTropes logo.
179* LargeHam: When an actor plays a role with [[ChewingTheScenery scenery-chewing]] gusto.
180* LighterAndSofter: The exact opposite of DarkerAndEdgier. Trying to throw in cuter, happier, and often funnier parts to tone down the franchise and its characters.
181* LoveTriangle: A relationship involving more than two people ([[LoveDodecahedron sometimes as many as it can]]). Can take many forms.
182* MacGuffin: A physical object, the pursuit of which drives the plot; but the purpose of the object is irrelevant to the plot.
183* MadScientist: A character who exploits science for fun and profit.
184* MagicAIsMagicA: The "Rules of the World," a set of rules and themes that make the whole universe believable as long as they follow {{consistency}}. Breaking them can destroy the audience's willingness to accept the story.
185* {{Masquerade}}: Weird things exist, but for some reason have to be hidden from the general public. The story thus takes place in "the real world" but with a supernatural undercurrent.
186* MeaningfulName: A name with a deeper meaning, which is no coincidence.
187* MemeticMutation: Things (usually phrases) that are repeated and parodied everywhere, to the point where they become fads. Mutation comes in when the aspect being repeated is not representative of the series or character as a whole.
188* MindRape: A mental trauma to the point where it's similar to rape.
189* MindScrew: A confusing plot so wrought with symbolism and psychological drama that it's hard to say for sure what actually happened.
190* {{Moe}}: A form of adorable cuteness that inspires a nurturing instinct in the audience.
191* MoodWhiplash: A sudden change in the mood of a work.
192* {{Mooks}}: Minions. The enemy's weak, nameless foot soldiers who exist to be defeated ''en masse'' by the heroes.
193* MoreDakka: Firing far, far more bullets than are actually necessary.
194* TheMovie: A movie-length installment of a series shown in the cinemas.
195* {{Muggles}}: The "normal" people who exist outside the unusual, extraordinary, supernatural, or paranormal events taking place in the plot.
196* MundaneMadeAwesome: Trying to turn mundane scenes into great events using special effects or other stylistic means of direction. ([[Administrivia/RenamedTropes Formerly known as]] "What Do You Mean It's Not Awesome?")
197* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: In fiction, evil people have evil names.
198* NiceGuy: A character who is kind and polite.
199* NiceJobBreakingItHero: It went FromBadToWorse, and it's the hero's fault.
200* NinjaPirateZombieRobot: Combining two or more cool things makes the whole [[SugarWiki/SoCoolItsAwesome more awesome]] than the sum of its parts.
201* NintendoHard: A {{video game}} that is very, ''very'' difficult.
202** ThatOneBoss: A video game {{boss|Battle}} who is considerably more difficult or frustrating than the rest of the game's bosses.
203** ThatOneLevel: A video game level that is more difficult or frustrating than the rest of the game's levels.
204* ObfuscatingStupidity: A character acts clueless to make others underestimate them.
205* ObviouslyEvil: A villain whose appearance makes no attempt to hide their evilness.
206* OhCrap: The moment at which characters realize that they are completely and totally screwed.
207* TheOldestOnesInTheBook: Tropes that really ''have'' been handed down by our ancestors.
208* OmnicidalManiac: A villain bent on destroying all that exists.
209* OneWingedAngel: A character (usually the BigBad) suddenly turns into a monstrous super-human creature when unleashing the full extent of their power.
210* OnlySaneMan: The only character who notices the weirdness in a comedy.
211* PlayedForLaughs: Using a (usually non-comedic) trope for comedy.
212* ThePowerOfLove: When love makes some supernatural plot event happen.
213* {{Pun}}: Wordplay involving similar-sounding words. Tends to be done as lamely as possible for maximum groan inducement. Commonly used by a Mr. JustForFun/ReportSiht in means both [[{{Pun}} cruel and unusual]].
214** StealthPun: A pun whose punchline is implied, but not stated outright.
215** VisualPun: Similarly, a sight gag that hides a pun in it.
216* PunctuatedForEmphasis: Speaking! With! EMPHASIS!
217* RecycledInSPACE: A familiar story, premise, or cast placed into a different (often fantastical or bizarre) context.
218* RedemptionQuest: The [[TheHerosJourney journey]] for [[TheAtoner heroes who REALLY screwed up.]]
219* {{Redshirt}}s: The GoodCounterpart to the Mooks; expendable, anonymous foot soldiers whose only purpose is to add emotional gravity to the story by being casualties in battle. Frequently killed off to show that a situation is dangerous without having to put one of the main characters at risk.
220* RefugeInAudacity: So over-the-top and/or bizarre that it can't be considered offensive.
221* {{Retcon}}: The act of portraying previously established canon information in a different way (sometimes even contradicting previous canon) to propel the current plot. Short for "retroactive continuity".
222* RuleOfCool: If something is cool enough, it doesn't have to make sense.
223** RuleOfFunny: If something is funny enough, it doesn't have to make sense.
224** RuleOfScary: (You get the idea.)
225* RuleOfDrama: Something added because it's necessary to create a conflict.
226* RunningGag: A joke that recurs throughout the episode or series.
227* SarcasmMode: Marking online text to indicate sarcasm.
228* SavingTheWorld: The fate of the entire known world hangs in the balance, with the protagonists on one side and [[TakeOverTheWorld world domination]] (or [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt Destruction]]) on the other.
229* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney: When a character can ignore the rules because he can afford to pay away any consequences.
230** ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: When a character can ignore the rules in favor of following their conscience and doing the right thing. Usually part of the ChaoticGood element.
231* SealedEvilInACan: A villain or evil force is locked away to prevent their escape. Usually breaks free.
232* SequelHook: An ending or dangling plot thread that just asks for a follow-up.
233* {{Sequelitis}}: The unfortunately common occurrence that a {{sequel}} fails to live up to its predecessor.
234* SeriousBusiness: A frivolous or commonplace activity that the characters take more seriously than they should, and which forms the premise of the show. Sometimes extended to everyone in the fictional world.
235* ShoutOut: An affectionate reference or nod to another property that the author enjoyed.
236* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: The idea that all stories need to answer one question about the nature of reality. The proper way to approach the conflicts in the plot is then derived from this conclusion. The question is something like "What best defeats evil? {{The Power of Friendship}}, or [[KillHimAlready a bullet between the eyes]]?"
237* SmugSnake: A character who thinks him/herself as a MagnificentBastard but lacks magnificence.
238* StableTimeLoop: When an event caused by a {{time travel}}er is integral or responsible for the time travel in the first place. Most commonly, a time traveler goes back in time to try and prevent an event, but ends up inadvertently causing it instead.
239* StalkerWithACrush: A character noted for their obsession with another character.
240* StatusQuoIsGod: [[ResetButton Each episode ends up with the protagonists roughly where they started]], since change would mean that anybody who missed this episode would be lost. If they become rich at the beginning of the episode, they will lose the money by the end, and so on. Decades worth of shows, especially {{sitcom}}s, lived by this. Averting this has become increasingly common over the years.
241* StoryArc: A series of stories which gradually moves a greater story along.
242* SubTrope: A more specialized form of another trope, but which is distinct enough to be its own trope.
243* SubvertedTrope: A story sets up a trope to happen and then yanks the rug out from under the audience by doing something with it that is different from their expectations. (Often referred to as "subverted" or "a subversion".)
244* TakeThat: Whenever a work of fiction knocks something that the author dislikes.
245* TechnoBabble: A complex or intelligent-sounding explanations that's meant to convey the appearance of technical depth to the story universe, but that doesn't have to make any sense whatsoever.
246* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill: Use of excessive force.
247* ThisLoserIsYou: The tendency for shows to make their heroes whiny, idiotic so-and-so's, since that's what they think viewers sympathize best with.
248* TitleDrop: When the name of a work is spoken only once within the work, but in a particularly epic fashion.
249* TooDumbToLive: A character who puts life and limb at risk by doing things that any sane human being would know better than to do.
250* {{Token|Index}}: A character included in a work in order to check off a demographic box.
251* TookALevelInBadass: A formerly weak character becomes a badass.
252* TrueCompanions: Friends as close as family, and just as protective.
253* TruthInTelevision: When a trope turns out to have a counterpart in RealLife.
254* {{Tsundere}}: Females whose temperament runs both hot and cold.
255* {{Understatement}}: Saying that, for example, the tropes on this page appear occasionally on TV Tropes.
256* UnexplainedRecovery: A dead character is restored to the status quo with no explanation whatsoever.
257* ViewersAreMorons: The attitude often taken by producers, dumbing down shows or removing more complicated story elements to appeal to a wider audience.
258* VillainousBreakdown: The moment when a villain suddenly snaps and loses his cool, sometimes becoming extremely pissed off and/or sometimes going crazy, even LaughingMad. Often done when the tables have turned on his plans.
259* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Elements the authors thought about adding to the story but ultimately never did, usually but certainly not always with the implication that it would have been better had they included them.
260* WhatTheHellHero: A hero is called on his morally ambiguous or directly evil actions by characters in the story.
261* WhamEpisode: An episode where things take a shocking turn, usually leading to major plot changes.
262** WhamLine: A phrase that, once delivered, hits the audience like a heavy blow.
263* WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief: The viewers' willingness to accept the story. The story doesn't have to conform to real world physics or logic, necessarily, but it does have to play by [[MagicAIsMagicA the rules it sets for itself]] (which are often referred to as "internal logic").
264* WordOfGod: Any statement made by the authors to clarify confusing or controversial parts in a series. The name is because their statements are ([[DeathOfTheAuthor usually]]) taken as final and absolute.
265* WriterOnBoard: When the writer hijacks the story's previously-established plot and characterizations in order to make [[AnAesop a political or moral statement.]]
266* XanatosGambit: A plan designed to succeed regardless of the outcome—there are two or more possible outcomes to a plan, and you ensure that you win no matter which one happens.
267** GambitRoulette: A [[ThePlan plan]] that relies upon improbable coincidences and things the planner could not possibly know, but works anyway.
268* JustForFun/XMeetsY: Stock show pitch — the premise is a combination of two well-known and well-liked things, with the hope that the new thing is greater than the sum of its parts.
269* {{Yandere}}: This person's crazy about you. [[AxCrazy Often literally.]]
270----
271'''In-wiki:'''
272
273''Purely {{YMMV}}, or entries that concern the wiki itself.''
274
275* DarthWiki/DarthWiki: The wiki's EvilTwin. As indicated by its white-on-black appearance, DarthWiki/DarthWiki is the home of venting, complaining, and tongue-in-cheek criticism that would be out of place in the actual wiki.
276* SugarWiki/SugarWiki: Likewise, a section for mindless gushing and {{fandom}}, which is also not acceptable in the real wiki.
277** SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome: A great moment in a work that the fans will always remember.
278** SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: An EarWorm that is so WorthIt.
279** SugarWiki/FunnyMoments: All the scenes that were just flat-out hilarious.
280** SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments: The moments in a work that make the audience glow with warm, happy feelings.
281* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: A different way of looking at a character's actions which results in a distinctly different impression of their nature. When taken to extremes, or when very little information is available about a character, this can become WildMassGuessing.
282* {{Anvilicious}}: AnAesop so lacking in subtlety it's like being [[AnvilOnHead hit over the head with an anvil]].
283* AssPull: When a story element is introduced with no buildup — it's basically pulled out the writer's ass.
284* BaseBreakingCharacter: A character with very polarizing fan reception.
285* BellisariosMaxim: "We could fill in all the {{plot hole}}s, but that would take too much time."
286* BrokenBase: When a work's fandom cannot agree on certain things about it.
287** ContestedSequel: When a work itself splits opinions among the fanbase.
288* CanonDiscontinuity: When something is declared null and void by the authors themselves.
289** FanonDiscontinuity: When something that is canon is, for some reason — usually for being bad, out of place, or stupid — ignored by a large portion of the fandom.
290* Administrivia/ComplainingAboutShowsYouDontLike: This is a big no-no here. Not that you can't voice your grievances about shows you don't like, but don't suggest a trope solely for this purpose — we already have a few designated places for that.
291* CompleteMonster: A horrifically evil and cruel villain completely beyond redemption, worthy only of a truly deserving KarmicDeath, a FateWorseThanDeath, a ''supreme'' asskicking, or a very thorough HumiliationConga.
292* CreatorsPet: When TheScrappy or the BaseBreakingCharacter is a favorite character of the writers. (Formerly known as "The Wesley".)
293* CrossesTheLineTwice: Stops being offensive and starts being funny.
294* DesignatedHero: A character whom the story plays off as being good and heroic, but who comes off as not, usually for being either a {{Jerkass}} or the cause of what ruins the story most of the time.
295* DracoInLeatherPants: The tendency of [[MisaimedFandom fandom]] to fetishize a certain character (usually a villain or AntiHero), and play up said character's attractiveness over his or her personality flaws.
296* EnsembleDarkhorse: A character who unexpectedly becomes popular within the {{fandom}}.
297* EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory: The idea that symbolism exists everywhere, even in places where it doesn't.
298* FridgeLogic: Errors of logic or plotting which do not detract from enjoyment of the story; indeed, they're only realized in retrospect, as the viewer is walking back to the fridge after the show.
299** FridgeBrilliance: The more you think about it, the better it gets.
300** FridgeHorror: The more you think about it, the creepier it gets.
301* GameBreaker: A controversial element of gameplay that unexpectedly trumps all others.
302* {{Headscratchers/Headscratchers}}: The place in Website/TVTropes to go if you want to discuss plot elements that just bug you.
303* HilariousInHindsight: Later events make something funny, or even funnier.
304** DistancedFromCurrentEvents: A work is either temporarily or permanently pulled due to similarities to real-world tragedies.
305** HarsherInHindsight: A tragic event makes something in a story more difficult to digest.
306* JumpingTheShark: A specific event or point in time at which an ongoing work begins to decline in quality or creativity.
307** SeasonalRot: The period where the decay is easy to notice.
308** GrowingTheBeard: The opposite; the point at which a show starts getting better.
309* Administrivia/JustifyingEdit: An attempt by a wiki editor to justify the use of a trope.
310* LoveItOrHateIt: InUniverse, when a work is incredibly divisive and very few people find it average.
311* JustForFun/MadeOfWin: The in-wiki equivalent of SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome, where a contribution is really funny or otherwise very, very good.
312* {{MST3K Mantra}}: "It's just a show; I should really just relax." A warning not to get too invested or emotionally involved in a work of fiction. It's not the end of the world; don't take things so seriously. Just roll with things and enjoy it.
313* {{Narm}}: A moment that is supposed to be serious, but becomes unintentionally funny.
314* NightmareFuel: Really scary stuff, meant to scare everyone.
315** AccidentalNightmareFuel: Things in media that scare people even though they were never meant to.
316* PrecisionFStrike: An unexpected use of swearing for emotional impact.
317* TheScrappy: A character that is out-and-out hated by the {{fandom}}.
318* SelfDemonstratingArticle: An article in which the trope listed applies to the article itself
319* SoBadItsGood: Can mean two things. 1) A work which was intentionally poorly made, in order to be humorous. 2) A work that was created to be good, but garners a fanbase due to how ridiculous it is.
320* {{Squick}}: Something that makes you feel disgusted or nauseated.
321* TearJerker: A moment in a work sad enough to lead most viewers into crying.
322* TropeCodifier: The example that everybody else is copying, or at least copying a copy of.
323* TropeMaker: The work that invents the trope.
324* TropeNamers: The example that gives a trope its name on the wiki (sometimes due to pop culture, sometimes due to being a TropeCodifier).
325* UnfortunateImplications: Potentially offensive message, often just accidental.
326* UrExample: Widely held to be the very first example of a trope.
327* VindicatedByHistory: Something badly received or ignored upon release gets its due recognition years later.
328* {{Wangst}}: Excessive angst, or angst done wrong.
329* WildMassGuessing: TheContributors create bizarre theories.
330* TheWoobie: A character who suffers, and the audience goes "awww".
331** JerkassWoobie: A character who suffers and, despite their obnoxious attitude, leaves you feeling bad for them because of what they get put through.
332[[/index]]
333

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