Line #179 Main/Consistency


1	There are, roughly speaking, three kinds of consistency that a viewer expects from a story:
2
3	* '''External Consistency''': Consistency with the real world.\
4	The fictional universe is LikeRealityUnlessNoted. Violations of external consistency are "unrealistic."
5	* '''Genre Consistency''': Consistency with other fictional works.\
6	The fictional universe should behave like other works in its genre, unless specifically noted otherwise. Any fictional concepts, characters, or settings borrowed from other works should behave as they do in those works. Tropes are PlayedStraight. For example, a [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragon]] is generally expected to be a flying reptilian creature that breathes fire; if it's different in your work, the differences should be pointed out before they start affecting the plot.
7	* '''Internal Consistency''': Consistency with itself.\
8	Any rules, events, settings, or characters that have been established within the fictional work continue to exist and function as they did previously, unless otherwise indicated. If your work takes place in an ExpandedUniverse, you're generally expected to be consistent with the (non-expanded) {{Canon}}.
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10	Consistency aids WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief, while violations of consistency may be jolting and unexpected, which can benefit both humor and drama. The viewer would be quite surprised to learn that in your universe, [[RichardNixonTheUsedCarSalesman Hitler was a circus performer]], [[VideoGame/{{Loom}} dragons are scared of fire]], and that the married couple no longer recognize each other in Act III. Generally, if a work is inconsistent, the viewer expects there to be a good reason for it -- commonly accepted reasons include the RuleOfFunny (sudden deviations from expected outcomes are comedy bread-and-butter) and "the uncanny" (deliberately making the audience feel that something is "off" about the world). On the other hand, sometimes violations of consistency go unnoticed even if they're quite obvious, or may even be ''expected''; e.g. TheCoconutEffect, by definition, sacrifices some External Consistency for Genre Consistency. Conversely, if a work forgoes Genre Consistency in favor of External Consistency, then you have a SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome.
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12	Often, a feature in a work is consistent at one level and not at another; for example, maybe [[OurVampiresAreDifferent your vampires]] [[Literature/TheTwilightSaga glitter in sunlight]], which is not genre consistent with other works featuring vampires, but as long as they always do that, it ''is'' internally consistent. Similarly, if a work sacrifices a lot of External Consistency but is heavy on Internal Consistency, you get MagicAIsMagicA.
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14	Sometimes, as in the case of sequels, it can be unclear whether two works are distinct works or part of the same work, making the distinction between Genre Consistency and Internal Consistency a bit fuzzy.
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16	An [[OmnipresentTropes Omnipresent Trope]], since every work of fiction has ''some'' kind of consistency (except maybe ''Literature/FinnegansWake'').
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18	No examples please -- this is just a descriptive SuperTrope and index.
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20	----
21	!Related tropes:
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23	[[foldercontrol]]
24
25	[[index]]
26
27	!!Consistency
28
29	[[folder:Fiction in General]]
30	* {{Canon}}: The stuff you're supposed to be consistent with.
31	* WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief: Aided by consistency.
32	* MST3KMantra: A common reminder not to focus ''too'' much on inconsistencies.
33	[[/folder]]
34
35	!!External Consistency
36
37	[[folder:Presence of External Consistency]]
38	"Realistic." "Just like in real life." "That could really happen."
39
40	* {{Deconstruction}}: A work looks at the serious reactions and consequences to a work's conventions that are usually glossed over.
41	* DeliberateValuesDissonance: A work set in the past deliberately shows the unpleasant beliefs and aspects of the past and doesn't whitewash any of it.
42	* LikeRealityUnlessNoted
43	* PlausibleDeniability
44	* ShownTheirWork: It is apparent that whatever subject is referenced or used in the work, the creators did thorough research to ensure they made no mistakes about the subject.
45	* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: The realistic consequences and outcomes of certain tropes are demonstrated rather than having the same results as in any other work of fiction.
46	[[/folder]]
47
48	[[folder:Lack of External Consistency]]
49	"Unrealistic." "It doesn't really work that way." "It wouldn't happen that way in real life."
50
51	* AnimeReality
52	* ArtisticLicense
53	* BasedOnAGreatBigLie
54	* CelebrityParadox: Presumably, a movie's actors and other works they starred in don't exist in the setting of the movie.
55	* FalselyAdvertisedAccuracy: Insisting you've done the research when it's obvious you didn't.
56	* HollywoodStyle: An index on how things are unrealistically portrayed by Hollywood.
57	* ImprobableBehaviourTropes: Characters behave in way that would be very unlikely in real life.
58	* TheKidsAreAmerican: Characters have American accents even though their parents are not American.
59	* MutuallyFictional: It's established that two works are works of fiction in each other's realities.
60	* NoEndorHolocaust
61	* NotAllowedToGrowUp: Characters who are children or teenagers never age regardless of how long the series lasts.
62	* PoliticallyCorrectHistory: Works taking place in the past change or remove aspects of the past that today's people would find offensive or politically incorrect.
63	* RuleOfIndex
64	** AcceptableBreaksFromReality
65	* ThisIndexIsAnachronistic
66	* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory
67	[[/folder]]
68
69	[[folder:Excess of External Consistency]]
70	"Too real." "Is this supposed to be fiction or a documentary?"
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72	* AccidentallyCorrectWriting: The writer either didn't or couldn't know the facts, but guessed correctly.
73	* AutobiographicalRole
74	* NotSoCrazyAnymore: A work makes an idea out to be ridiculous, only for it to be validated [[TechnologyMarchesOn years down]] the line.
75	* RealismInducedHorror: A given element is jarringly realistic for the tone of a work.
76	* UnexpectedlyRealisticGameplay: A gameplay mechanic is more realistic than the conventions of the genre would suggest.
77	* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: A work references fads, pop culture and other stuff from the time it was made, causing the work not to age well.
78	[[/folder]]
79
80	[[folder:When External Consistency Doesn't Work]]
81	"It's this way in reality, but it shouldn't be this way in fiction."
82
83	* TheCoconutEffect
84	* RealityIsUnrealistic
85	* MisaimedRealism: An attempt to add realism to the work backfires due to poor handling.
86	[[/folder]]
87
88	!!Genre Consistency
89
90	[[folder:Presence of Genre Consistency]]
91	"Just like in other works." "Seen this one before."
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93	* AllMythsAreTrue: It is established that all the well-known myths and legends actually happened and weren't just stories.
94	* ExpandedUniverse: Information not given in the work itself is revealed in related tie-in media.
95	* FantasyKitchenSink
96	* TheLawsOfMagic
97	* PlayedStraight
98	[[/folder]]
99
100	[[folder:Lack of Genre Consistency]]
101	"A different take on X." "That's not how it usually works in stories."
102
103	* AudienceAlienatingPremise: Often results from reworking a genre in ways that would turn off fans of that genre.
104	* GenreRefugee
105	* GenreShift
106	* HalfwayPlotSwitch
107	* HowUnscientific
108	* OurMonstersAreDifferent
109	* OutOfGenreExperience
110	* PlayingWithATrope (particularly SubvertedTrope, AvertedTrope)
111	* VileVillainSaccharineShow: A saccharine and lighthearted show has an incongruously sinister villain.
112	* ViolationOfCommonSense: Being rewarded for performing an action that goes against the logic of the genre.
113	[[/folder]]
114
115	[[folder:Excess of Genre Consistency]]
116	"Too much like other works, nothing new or original." "Exploring and pushing the genre up to its limits."
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118	* ClicheStorm
119	* FormulaWithATwist: An entry into a genre which follows the same basic formula, with some new twist on the concept.
120	* LayoutOfASeason: The formulaic structuring of a show's seasons.
121	* StrictlyFormula: Every episode basically has the same plot.
122	* {{Troperiffic}}
123	[[/folder]]
124
125	!!Internal Consistency
126
127	[[folder:Presence of Internal Consistency]]
128	"Everything fits together." "They've set rules and they're sticking to them." "Like it was carefully planned."
129
130	* AscendedGlitch
131	* {{Callback}}
132	* {{Continuity}}
133	* ContinuityNod: Referencing the events of a previous episode or installment.
134	* CharacterRerailment: Consistent with original characterization at the expense of later characterization.
135	* DevelopersForesight: Video game developers are able to anticipate anything the player might try to do in the game.
136	* JigsawPuzzlePlot
137	* MagicAIsMagicA
138	* MinovskyPhysics
139	* SlidingScaleOfGameplayAndStoryIntegration: The higher a game is on this scale, the more internally consistent it is.
140	* TheProducerThinksOfEverything
141	* UniverseBible
142	* VideoGamesAndFate
143	* WorldBuilding
144	[[/folder]]
145
146	[[folder:Lack of Internal Consistency]]
147	"Wait, where did that come from?" "Stuff that happened before no longer matters." "It's like a whole different work." "Will they make up their minds?"
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149	* AbandonedCatchphrase: A phrase a character frequently said initially, but later stops saying or doesn't say as often anymore.
150	* AnimationBump: Moments in an animated work where the animation is of a higher quality.
151	* AnthropomorphicZigZag: An animal's level of anthropomorphism is inconsistent.
152	* ArtworkAndGameGraphicsSegregation: When the appearances of characters and items in a game's promotional and cover artwork don't match what's in the game.
153	* AssPull: An explanation or solution that comes out of nowhere and completely disregards what the story has already established, named from the idea that the author just pulled an answer from their ass out of desperation for a quick and easy way to resolve the conflict.
154	* BallIndex: When a character briefly acts inconsistently (referred to in these tropes as "holding the [trait] ball") for the sake of the plot.
155	* BellisariosMaxim: "Don't examine this too closely." Paying too much attention to the inconsistencies can be to a work's detriment.
156	* BeyondTheImpossible
157	* BleepDammit: The work makes use of censorship, but lacks a consistency on when it is applied (e.g. not bleeping out every utterance of a particular profanity, editing out nude scenes while doing nothing to crack down on the violent content, etc.)
158	* BreakingOldTrends
159	* BroadStrokes: A sequel or reboot establishes that the events of older stories happened, but not necessarily in the exact same way as depicted in the original stories.
160	* CharacterDerailment
161	* CharacterRerailment: Inconsistent with later characterization in favor of original characterization.
162	* TheChrisCarterEffect: If too many inconsistencies build up, the audience could leave.
163	* ContinuityDrift
164	* ContinuitySnarl
165	* DependingOnTheArtist: A character's physical appearance changes depending on which artist is drawing them.
166	* DependingOnTheWriter: A character's personality, interests and so on change depending on who is writing the current episode.
167	* DiscontinuityNod: Characters make a disparaging reference to a reviled part of the franchise.
168	* DeusExMachina
169	* FridgeLogic: Inconsistencies the audience only realizes after the fact (as in when they're going to the fridge for a snack).
170	* GameplayAndStorySegregation: What is established in the game's story is not consistent with what is possible or apparent in the actual gameplay.
171	* {{Handwave}}: A work gives a token acknowledgement and dismissal of an inconsistency.
172	* InconsistentColoring
173	* InconsistentDub
174	* InNameOnly: An adaptation that is so different from the source material that the title is pretty much the only thing the two works have in common.
175	* NegativeContinuity: A work lacks a consistent canon, so essentially every episode contradicts each other.
176	* OffModel: A character has an inconsistency in their character design.
177	* OutOfCharacterMoment: A moment where a character's behavior contrasts strongly with how they usually act.
178	* PlotHole: A story has an inconsistency with the plot preventing it from making complete sense.
179	* {{Retcon}}: Making retroactive changes to the established continuity.
180	* SeriesContinuityError: The series at one point makes a very noticeable continuity error that is too glaring to overlook or excuse.
181	* TimeyWimeyBall: Very often, TimeTravel is just plain not consistent.
182	* UnreliableCanon
183	* AWizardDidIt: Hastily explaining inconsistencies as happening because of magic.
184	* WriterConflictsWithCanon: What the creator says is canon is contradictory to what is seen in the actual work.
185	* VagueAge: It isn't clear how old a character is supposed to be, which can be the result of the series not being consistent on which age group the character belongs to.
186	* VoodooShark: An attempt at fixing a PlotHole that only results in making an even bigger Plot Hole.
187	* YourSizeMayVary: The size of a character is inconsistent.
188	[[/folder]]
189
190	[[folder:Excess of Internal Consistency]]
191	"This thing is so loaded with rules and self-references you'll never figure it out."
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193	* ContinuityLockOut: If you aren't caught up on everything, you won't know what's going on in the current episode or installment.
194	* ContinuityPorn
195	* KudzuPlot
196	* PlotArchaeology
197	[[/folder]]
198	[[/index]]
199	----

Context Main / Consistency