"Surprise, Motherfucker!"
— James Doakes, Dexter
Tropes about characters not getting what they expected. (Hope that doesn't shock you too much.)
One of the most useful emotions in a writer's toolbox and so one of the commonest in all sorts of stories.
See also Betrayal Tropes, Plot Twist, Twist Ending. Tropes in those indices will not be covered here.
Tropes
- Banging Pots and Pans
- Big "NO!"
- Big "WHAT?!"
- Big "WHY?!"
- Blank White Eyes
- Blue with Shock
- Color Failure
- Conveniently Timed Attack from Behind
- Didn't See That Coming
- Dramatic Curtain Toss
- Dramatic Drop
- Dramatic Sit-Down
- Dropping the Bombshell
- Dull Surprise
- Eye Pop
- Eye Take
- Forgot to Mind Their Head
- Friendly Scheming
- Game Changer
- Gay Bar Reveal
- Gut Punch
- "Hell, Yes!" Moment
- Heroic BSoD
- Home-Early Surprise
- Imminent Danger Clue
- Instant Cosplay Surprise
- Introduction by Hookup
- I Think You Broke Him
- Jaw Drop
- Just Woke Up That Way
- Kewpie Doll Surprise
- Lightswitch Surprise
- Making the Choice for You
- Matchlight Danger Revelation
- Mock Surprise Reaction
- My God, What Have I Done?
- No More Lies
- Nothing Is the Same Anymore
- Oh, Crap!
- Ominous Adversarial Amusement
- Open the Door and See All the People
- Paper Bag Popping
- Personal Effects Reveal
- The Picture Came with the Frame
- Post-Kiss Catatonia
- Refrigerator Ambush
- Scary Surprise Party
- Smoking Gun
- Spit Take
- Stunned Silence
- Superweapon Surprise
- Surprise Jump
- Surprise Party
- Surprise Pregnancy
- Surprise Vehicle
- Surprise Witness
- These Hands Have Killed
- This Cannot Be!
- Thunder Shock
- Two Rights Make a Wrong
- Unsettling Gender Reveal
- Waking Up Elsewhere
- Wham Episode
- What Have I Become?
- Why Won't You Die?
- Wild Take
- You Have Got to Be Kidding Me!
- You Monster!
- You Said You Would Let Them Go
- You're Insane!
