Line #15 PlayingWith/TheMillstone


1	'''Basic Trope''': A character that not only [[TheLoad doesn't contribute anything useful to the team]], but is also an active liability.
2	* '''Straight''': Alice is ostensibly part of the FiveManBand, but always ends up getting the main characters in trouble by bungling things with the MonsterOfTheWeek or BigBad.
3	* '''Exaggerated''':
4	** Alice always ends up [[UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom unwittingly leading]] the team into direct conflict with the villain(s).
5	** Alice's extreme incompetence does more damage than the actual villains.
6	* '''Downplayed''':
7	** Alice is a DamselErrant or ManicPixieDreamGirl
8	** Alice doesn't actively screw up her teammates' plans, but since she's too weak to defend herself against most enemies, she's been kidnapped a few times. Although she makes some useful contributions, it's never anything that couldn't have been done better by someone else.
9	* '''Justified''':
10	** Alice is only there because she is [[TheHero Bob's]] [[TagAlongKid little sister]], or girlfriend, or some such that he wanted to take with him.
11	** Alice is only with the rest of the team because circumstances force her to stay with the team for good, to Alice's dismay. Alice is not truly interested in helping them and doesn't care if she causes problems for the others.
12	** [[FauxActionGirl Alice]] just hasn't had ADayInTheLimelight or [[HeartIsAnAwesomePower a chance to shine yet]].
13	** Alice is trying to help, but doesn't have the talents nor training to do what she does.
14	** Alice is some sort of LivingMacguffin; she might not have much practical use herself but for some reason she is necessary for the party.
15	** Alice is [[TheArthurDent not only the least powerful major character, but also a borderline average human]].
16	** Alice is actually TheMole and her screw-ups are deliberate hindrances to the team she's in.
17	* '''Inverted''': [[TeamMom Alice]] is [[TheSmartGuy the smartest]] [[TheBigGuy and strongest]] [[GeniusBruiser character on the team]], and always ends up taking care of and rescuing all the others.
18	* '''Subverted''':
19	** Alice seems to get the characters in trouble, but it actually ends up getting them away from a trap.
20	** [[DeliberatelyDistressedDamsel Alice acts like she's a load of trouble]] because it's a ploy.
21	* '''Double Subverted''':
22	** But then, she brings the enemies to the team anyway.
23	** Except she doesn't have the talent to escape, can't resist the torture, and sells the team out.
24	* '''Parodied''': Alice wears a sign that says "DESIGNATED FAILURE" on it.
25	* '''Zig Zagged''': Sometimes Alice hinders the team, sometimes she helps, sometimes she doesn't do anything.
26	* '''Averted''':
27	** Alice is not part of the team.
28	** Alice never needs rescuing. Should she ever get captured by the enemy, you may be sure that [[DamselOutOfDistress she'll make her escape]] by the time BigDamnHeroes come to retrieve her.
29	** Alice is a supporting member of the team, helping with things -- usually in the background -- that don't cause problems.
30	* '''Enforced''':
31	** FailureIsTheOnlyOption, usually in combination with [[TheDitz one particular character]] getting the IdiotBall or the DistressBall all the time.
32	** {{Chickification}} or {{Ukefication}}, either in a FanFiction, or [[AdaptationDecay a change in adaptation]], or an attempt to appeal to some PeripheryDemographic.
33	** Alice is a ParodySue.
34	* '''Lampshaded''': "The mission isn't just hard because we have Alice to worry about, everything Alice does seems to make things worse."
35	* '''Implied''': After returning from a mission, [[TheLeader Bob]] is seen chewing out Alice for turning a quick and smooth operation into an utter mess, [[TheLancer Claire]] [[NoodleIncident mentions a couple of previous instances]] of a task going horribly wrong thanks to her, while [[TheSmartGuy Daniel]] wonders aloud why they still haven't dismissed someone as obstructive as Alice.
36	* '''Invoked''':
37	** Alice lets her NaiveEverygirl tendencies or some other weakness get the better of her.
38	** DaChief assigns Alice to TheSquad, knowing that she'll screw things up... [[BatmanGambit which is exactly what he wants]].
39	* '''Exploited''':
40	** The BigBad uses Alice's weakness against her.
41	** Emperor Evulz gets the chance to kill Alice [[OnceAnEpisode every week]]. He always refuses, because she hurts the heroes far more than he ever does.
42	* '''Defied''':
43	** Alice goes through TrainingFromHell, or at least TookALevelInBadass, and takes cues from the other characters (verbal and nonverbal) instead of just {{Leeroy Jenkins}}ing.
44	** Alice realizes she's detrimental to the FiveManBand, and [[KnowWhenToFoldEm leaves of her own accord]].
45	** Alice is [[SacrificialLamb killed off]] pretty soon in the plot, [[WeHardlyKnewYe before she can either be a hindrance or it can be seen if she would be a hindrance]].
46	** After the first time Alice screws up, the other members of the FiveManBand promptly [[GetOut give her the boot]], maybe [[GettingTheBoot even literally]].
47	* '''Discussed''': ???
48	* '''Conversed''': A frustrated viewer asks [[WhyWouldAnyoneTakeHimBack why they still bring Alice along]] when all she ever does is making things worse.
49	* '''Implied''': The rest of the team is ''very'' visibly frustrated when they rescue Alice.
50	* '''Deconstructed''':
51	** Obviously, teamwork breaks down if the FiveManBand (or the EliteFour, for that matter) always has to pull one of its members out of the mess they've just swan-dived headfirst into.
52	** Alice [[ItsAllMyFault expresses acute awareness]] of her letting down the team, which [[HeroicBSOD doesn't help her self-esteem or functionality in the least]].
53	* '''Reconstructed''':
54	** The FiveManBand hones their skills and their patience through continually rescuing Alice, rather like how carrying around a millstone would cause someone to become stronger. [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway They decide to keep her around for this reason]].
55	** Alice actually ''does'' [[HeartIsAnAwesomePower have something useful to contribute when the opportunity presents itself]].
56	** With time passing and [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre therapy provided]], Alice rediscovers her abilities in non-combat areas and accepts a support role, such as [[TheMedic team healer]], [[TeamChef team cook]], or MissionControl.
57	* '''Played For Laughs''': In the series' ClipShow, after a montage of EpicFail moments triggered by Alice's incompetence, the other members of the team ask DaChief "mind explaining to us again ''why'' we have her around, anyway?"
58	* '''Played For Drama''': The mission goes pear-shaped and everybody in the team is nearly killed because Alice is worthless as a member. In the aftermath we get a good view of how much they are fed up when the team spends a hefty amount of time debating whether or not [[YouHaveFailedMe to kill Alice as punishment for her uselessness]], [[DramaBomb without a single iota of sarcasm]].
59	* '''Played For Horror''': Alice's uselessness leads to many members of the team to die [[CruelAndUnusualDeath horrible]], [[WhatASenselessWasteOfHumanLife preventable deaths]], and the survivors to express the hatred this has created by lynching her.
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61	Back to TheMillstone
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63	%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
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Context PlayingWith / TheMillstone