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rename and clean up description: You Are Batman

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XRay X Ray from His Chair Since: Nov, 2010
#51: Jan 17th 2011 at 11:45:04 AM

Okay, I think I've got it:

So you're two thirds of the way through a book/movie/whatever, when suddenly, the main protagonist dies, is imprisoned, performs a Face–Heel Turn, or is otherwise unable to act as the main protagonist. All seems lost, a Take Up My Sword hasn't been pulled! What is to be done?

But wait! The Sidekick, Love Interest, The Rival, a Mauve Shirt (in theory, even an antagonist could pull this off) steps or is forced into the role of the main protagonist, and the work that you are reading focuses on them for the rest of the time it takes to finish the work. The original protagonist may return near the end.

May or may not be related to and/or overlap with Legacy Character, All Up to You, You Are in Command Now, Field Promotion, or It's The Journey That Counts

So now we just have to think up a name. Gear Switch Protagonist?

Care to critique my villain's prison escape plan?
shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#52: Jan 17th 2011 at 12:58:08 PM

It works for that specific scenario, but not the trope in general. This can happen at the start of the work of even be told in flashback in which case there is no switching gears. Also, having it be a gear shift kind of negates the fact that it can overlap with Legacy Immortality.

edited 17th Jan '11 12:59:20 PM by shimaspawn

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
CaissasDeathAngel House Lewis: Sanity is Relative from Dumfries, SW Scotland Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
House Lewis: Sanity is Relative
#53: Jan 17th 2011 at 3:47:47 PM

[up][up]It can also be caused by Jumped at the Call, as I've described elsewhere in this thread - the choice can be voluntary by someone who endeavours to prove that they deserve the role.

My name is Addy. Please call me that instead of my username.
shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#54: Jan 17th 2011 at 4:57:00 PM

And really Gear Switch Protagonist sounds far too much like Decoy Protagonist which is a different trope.

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
XRay2 X Ray 2 from My chair Since: Nov, 2010
#55: Jan 18th 2011 at 9:55:10 PM

So, does the description work? 'Cause I can put it on the You Are Batman page and revise the examples that I listed until we can think of a better name...

Hi, I'm X Ray 2. I'm a high school student, and I am AWESOME.
shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#56: Jan 18th 2011 at 10:10:56 PM

[up] No, your description does not work and only covers one possible variation of the trope.

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
TibetanFox Feels Good, Man from Death Continent Since: Oct, 2010
Feels Good, Man
#57: Jan 19th 2011 at 12:45:24 AM

It seems like I Must Become Batman would be more descriptive than the present You Are Batman, while still fitting thematically.

The "must" is particularly important. It points out that this person isn't some copy cat glory seeker, but someone who has been forced by a combination of events and principles to take the role of a legacy character.

shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#58: Jan 19th 2011 at 12:53:18 AM

Batman is really a bad example though. He's not someone that most people think of as a Legacy Character. He tends to be associated in most people's minds as just Bruce Wayne. I Must Become Batman sounds like it's a trope about becoming a vigilante to get revenge. We need someone more well known for being a legacy character.

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
BlackWolfe Viewer Gender Confusion? from Lost in Austin Since: Jun, 2010
#59: Jan 19th 2011 at 12:54:32 AM

Taking Up the Mantle?

But soft! What rock through yonder window breaks? It is a brick! And Juliet is out cold.
TibetanFox Feels Good, Man from Death Continent Since: Oct, 2010
juancarlos11 Since: Aug, 2011
#61: Jan 19th 2011 at 7:49:47 AM

Thread Hop. Isn't this the same as a Legacy Character? Also, the trope needs a better description. I don't see how it works at all.

It's not exactly naive. And it can happen. But it's tough. And definetly worthwhile.
BlackWolfe Viewer Gender Confusion? from Lost in Austin Since: Jun, 2010
#62: Jan 19th 2011 at 7:58:19 AM

This is the plot point at which the main character takes on the role of the Legacy Character. One's a character, the other's an event. Related, but not the same.

But soft! What rock through yonder window breaks? It is a brick! And Juliet is out cold.
juancarlos11 Since: Aug, 2011
#63: Jan 19th 2011 at 8:25:44 AM

So, let me get this straight.

You Are Batman: A character takes up the identity of another character and his mission.

Take Up My Sword: The Hero decides to give up his task so another man can take it on.

So, I'm guessing we're keeping the trope, right? All it needs is a rename and a better description.

I propose we go with I'm taking his place or something to that effect.

edited 19th Jan '11 8:27:57 AM by juancarlos11

It's not exactly naive. And it can happen. But it's tough. And definetly worthwhile.
XRay X Ray from His Chair Since: Nov, 2010
#64: Jan 19th 2011 at 1:59:28 PM

I'll Take Up The Sword?

Care to critique my villain's prison escape plan?
AlexThePrettyGood Could be worse from Feeding the cat Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Could be worse
#65: Jan 19th 2011 at 3:24:03 PM

I think this trope shouldn't be limited to heroic examples. I can think of several villainous examples where a successor decides to take up a villain's mantle (Which can be a Sequel Hook then).

  • Harry Osborn becoming Green Goblin II in Spider-Man 3.
  • Scott Evil at the end of Austin Powers Goldmember.
  • Red Mist taking over the remains of his father's crime empire (IIRC) in Film/Kick-Ass.

As for a trope name, how about Pick Up Where He Left Off?

edited 19th Jan '11 3:24:33 PM by AlexThePrettyGood

Everything can be found on the Internet... except common sense.
Deboss I see the Awesomeness. from Awesomeville Texas Since: Aug, 2009
SeanMurrayI Since: Jan, 2010
Madrugada Since: Jan, 2001
#68: Jan 19th 2011 at 5:10:29 PM

I'm liking Pick Up Wher He Left Off. or Choosing To Take Up The Mantle? That one emphasizes that it is a voluntary situation, rather than one they feel forced or pressured into.

BlackWolfe Viewer Gender Confusion? from Lost in Austin Since: Jun, 2010
#69: Jan 19th 2011 at 5:36:27 PM

"Choosing to Take Up The Mantle" is a teeny bit long. For some reason making it past tense, despite only losing one syllable, makes it scan better to me: Chose To Take Up The Mantle. Dunno why, but it does.

But soft! What rock through yonder window breaks? It is a brick! And Juliet is out cold.
RocketScience Not dead yet. from a dark place Since: Jan, 2001
shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#71: Jan 19th 2011 at 5:37:15 PM

[up] I kind of agree. It just scans better.

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
Deboss I see the Awesomeness. from Awesomeville Texas Since: Aug, 2009
BlackWolfe Viewer Gender Confusion? from Lost in Austin Since: Jun, 2010
#73: Jan 19th 2011 at 5:39:02 PM

No, it's not. For some reason, I just like the semi-archaic term "mantle" because of all the connotations.

But soft! What rock through yonder window breaks? It is a brick! And Juliet is out cold.
SeanMurrayI Since: Jan, 2010
#74: Jan 19th 2011 at 5:50:23 PM

Self Designated or Self-Appointed Successor would probably be as clear and straightforward as this can get.

edited 19th Jan '11 5:50:51 PM by SeanMurrayI

BlackWolfe Viewer Gender Confusion? from Lost in Austin Since: Jun, 2010
#75: Jan 19th 2011 at 5:51:10 PM

I like Self-Appointed better than Self-Designated.

But soft! What rock through yonder window breaks? It is a brick! And Juliet is out cold.

AlternativeTitles: YouAreBatman
20th Apr '10 12:00:00 AM

Crown Description:

Vote up names you like, vote down names you don't. Whether or not the title will actually be changed is determined with a different kind of crowner (the Single Proposition crowner). This one just collects and ranks alternative titles.

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