Do you have trouble remembering the difference between Deathbringer the Adorable and Fluffy the Terrible?
Do you have trouble recognizing when you've written a Zero-Context Example?
Not sure if you really have a Badass Bookworm or just a guy who likes to read?
Well, this is the thread for you. We're here to help you will all the finer points of example writing. If you have any questions, we can answer them. Don't be afraid. We don't bite. We all just want to make the wiki a better place for everyone.
Useful Tips:
- Make sure that the example makes sense to both people who don't know the work AND don't know the trope.
- Wrong: The Mentor: Kevin is this to Bob in the first episode.
- Right: The Mentor: Kevin takes Bob under his wing in the first episode and teaches him the ropes of being a were-chinchilla.
- Never just put the trope title and leave it at that.
- Wrong: Badass Adorable
- Right: Badass Adorable: Xavier, the group's cute little mascot, defeats three raging elephants with both hands tied behind his back using only an uncooked spaghetti noodle.
- When is normally far less important than How.
- A character name is not an explanation.
- Wrong: Full Moon Silhouette: Diana
- Right: Full Moon Silhouette: At the end of her transformation sequence into Moon Princess Misty, Diana is shown flying across the full moon riding a rutabaga.
Other Resources:
For best results, please include why you think an example is iffy in your first post.
Also, many oft-misused tropes/topics have their own threads, such as Surprisingly Realistic Outcome (here
) and Fan-Preferred Couple (here). Tropers are better able to give feedback on examples you bring up to specific threads.
For cleaning up examples of Complete Monster and Magnificent Bastard, you must use their dedicated threads: Complete Monster Cleanup, Magnificent Bastard Cleanup.
Edited by Synchronicity on Sep 18th 2023 at 11:42:55 AM
Officially intimidated
Alright, I'll take it there. Thanks.
135 - 169 - 273 - 191 - 188 - 230 - 300
She / Her
Re: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13543987200A54420100&page=927#comment-23169. Also, just in case, ~ChloeJessica.
About those Difficult, but Awesome entries you brought up, I agree those can be cut for the reasons you listed.
punctuation bug got it, but i saw the post. since it's been over a day, ill go ahead and cut them.
e: actually, it's been just short of a day, so ill get it in the morning just in case.
Edited by ChloeJessica on Oct 26th 2022 at 7:46:00 AM
Lovely Legilimens
CerebusRetcon.Gravity Falls seems to have a lot of stuff just be The Reveal or a Rewatch Bonus, or even foreshadowing. The examples about the Zodiac and the Finders Keepers law seem to fit the trope, but the rest I'm unsure about. (I'm also a little fuzzy on what differentiates Cerebus Retcon from Cerebus Call-Back.)
- Dipper being possessed by Bill originally seemed to be just a Monster of the Week scenario that didn't leave too much of an effect on him afterward. In "The Last Mabelcorn" we learn that he is actually very traumatized from those events, so much that he tried erasing Ford's mind when he believed he was under Bill's influence.
- "Not What He Seems" and its follow-up, "Tale of Two Stans," does this for many of Grunkle Stan's long-established eccentricities.
- He's a remorseless Con Man determined to make a buck at any cost. He has to be in order to afford the Mystery Shack's mortgage. If he loses the Shack, he loses the Universe Portal in the basement and his brother will be lost forever.
- Grunkle Stan's treatment of the wax dummy in his likeness? It's revealed that he was treating it like a Replacement Goldfish for his missing twin brother.
- The funny story Abaconings Stan told back in "Little Gift Shop of Horrors"? A retelling of his past altered to his wish.
- He has a hilariously criminal past, often shown in Cutaway Gags. Having few marketable skills, he had to do whatever he could to scrape together a living after his family kicked him out of the house for accidentally sabotaging his brother's future.
- He's willfully ignorant of the supernatural, refusing to acknowledge it. He's been trying to keep Dipper and Mabel safe because the only thing he knows about the magical elements of Gravity Falls is that they took his brother away from him.
- He'll go to great lengths to spend time with the Twins, even when there's no profit in it for him. Everything he's ever done, even all the crime, has been for his family. The Twins are the only family he has left.
- You thought the short Stan's Tattoo in the series Dipper's Guide to the Unexplained was funny? Not anymore after we learn it's actually a burn scar. And he got that scar in a fight with his long-lost brother, so his refusal to talk about it with Dipper foreshadows the fact he's got some bad memories about it.
- The fake ID cards Dipper and Mabel made? It probably runs in the family.
- Stan’s interest in the Sad Clown portrait from "The Hand That Rocks The Mabel" falls into Cerebus Retcon for two reasons: Stan had overheard his principal actually call him a clown and hammered down with Brutal Honesty about Stan's bleak future, and Stan’s spontaneous dark response about life in the "Bottomless Pit!" short, "Trooth Ache," happened while he, Dipper, and Mabel was watching a certain someone juggling and riding a unicycle on the television. Although Stan doesn't admit it, it's safe to assume that he liked the portrait because he relates to it—he feels as if he's the Sad Clown.
- "My one and only dream, which is to possess money, has come true!" "And you're not welcome here until you've made us a fortune!"
- What's the dream Stan is having right before Dipper, Mabel, and Soos enter his mind in "Dreamscaperers"? He mimes pushing someone and says "No..." He's been reliving the nightmare for years.
- Remember when Stan was hilariously overreacting to The Duchess Approves? Specifically, that scene where he sobs "It's just like my life!" as the Duchess ends up disagreeing with her mother? There's a chance it's bringing up painful memories of being disowned.
- "Society of the Blind Eye" does this to several of the show's long-running elements.
- The town's Weirdness Censor is explained as a consequence of the titular secret conspiracy erasing people's minds to prevent them from remembering the weird things they encounter.
- Since we first met him in "The Legend of the Gobblewonker," Old Man McGucket has been characterized as a hilariously deranged but brilliant inventor. In this episode, we learn he actually founded the Blind Eye Society and invented the mind eraser gun to forget some horrible thing he learned working with The Author. He drove himself to insanity by using it repeatedly, and we even get to watch his descent into gibbering lunacy through an Apocalyptic Log.
- One of McGucket's smaller quirks has been a band-aid on his beard that he even points out during the episode makes little sense. It turns out he injured himself and put on a band-aid, but was so used to the memory gun when it happened that he just zapped the memory of the accident from his brain, forgetting the band-aid was there as his beard grew under it.
- The individual members of the society themselves have their particular quirks cast in a new light, including Toby Determined's hopeless crush on Sandra Jimenez, Bud Gleeful's cheerful ignorance of his terrible son's behavior, and even the carnival barker's fear of witches. All of these traits have been Played for Laughs in previous episodes, but become much darker with the revelation that they've all been using the memory eraser on themselves to forget inconvenient or painful truths.
- Wendy confesses that her laid back demeanor is a façade she puts on to hide the stress from dealing with her family. It loses some of its bite as an Informed Flaw — the audience never sees what's so stressful about the Corduroys.
- The inference could be having to deal with being an only girl surrounded by hypermasculinity, as well as having lost her mother to reasons unknown.
- Soos' quest to make Stan proud and hopefully have the latter call him his son seems like a quirky Running Gag considering the kind of man Stan is, until "Blendin's Game" reveals that Soos' father was a deadbeat, and the day he realized his dad wasn't coming home (on his birthday, no less) was also the day he met, and started working for, Stan Pines.
- "Northwest Mansion Noir/Mystery" shows Pacifica's parents (previously shown to be somewhat aloof and distant) to be outright emotionally abusive, including training Pacifica to respond to a bell (which heavily implies they've physically abused her before, as well), and that the whole Northwest family is a line of Card Carrying Villains.
- In "Double Dipper", Pacifica's bribing of Old Man McGucket to cheer for her to win could simply be seen as her shallowly buying her way to win just over pettiness. But after watching "Golf War" and "Northwest Mansion Mystery" it takes a MUCH DARKER meaning in that had she lost even THAT her parents would have severely punished or maybe even outright disowned her.
- A portrait that the Lumberjack Ghost tries to burn implies that Pacifica used to be a Genki Girl similar to Mabel. This implies Pacifica was more jealous than petty towards Mabel.
- In "Society of the Blind Eye", it's shown that someone can regain lost memories by watching or seeing them again. This is important in the last episode, when the Pines family use Mabel's scrapbook to help Stan get his memories back.
EDIT: Pretty sure this entry about Sonic doesn't fit either.
" Dr. Eggman was a typical evil cartoon villain who wanted to take over the world in the most indirect way, which was capturing animals and turning them into robots that would do his bidding. By the time Sonic Adventure came to be, Dr. Eggman took a darker approach to his evil schemes, such as trying to control a god with unlimited power and then deciding to fire a missile at a city when he fails in his original plan. Dr. Eggman even takes control of a weaponized space colony and fires a laser at the moon, blowing off a huge chunk! And that was only a warning shot! Dr. Eggman's darker persona stayed with him for a while, although Sega attempted to dial it back a bit by making Eggman a bit more cartoonish for the humor factor, which can be seen in Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations. Dr. Eggman does return to his roots with animal capturing in Sonic the Hedgehog 4 as a throwback to the classic games. "
Edited by lalalei2001 on Oct 27th 2022 at 5:39:13 AM
The Protomen enhanced my life.
Lovely Legilimens
- In Little War Game you the player might start saying this since everything with a human voice calls you 'sir' for most orders you give them. This ordinarily wouldn't be a concern, but the game is a Real-Time Strategy game and as such, you'll be hearing their voices over... and over... and over...
Should this be removed since it's a meta example?
"I just want what everyone else has, that's all."
It's not even really an example. The trope is about not wanting to be treated formally, and the example sounds like it's just about getting tired of hearing the word "sir".
Is this scene from the sixth season of Desperate Housewives an example of Naked People Trapped Outside?
- In the season 6 episode "The Coffee Cup", Karl turns up at Bree's house for a tryst while Orson is away on a golfing trip. His arrival is noticed by a suspicious Angie Bolen, who had been asked earlier in the episode by Orson to spy on Bree. Angie goes to the roof of Bree's test kitchen, and watches as Karl and Bree begin having sex in her bedroom...and then panics when she sees Orson's car pulling into the driveway. Fearing how Orson might react if he catches Bree and Karl red-handed, Angie quickly calls Bree to warn her. With no time to get Karl dressed, Bree is forced to stuff his clothes under her pillows while he's forced to sneak out through the window and hide naked on the roof (and much to his embarrassment, in a location where Angie can see him). Angie then enters the house, pretends that she's the person Bree was drinking wine with (to explain the wine glasses Orson found on the coffee table in the living room), and once Orson is out of the room, slips Karl his clothes and tells him to make sure to put his pants on first so he doesn't injure himself jumping into the rose bushes during his escape.
F1 the robot
Is this entry on Puppy Love valid?
- SPY×FAMILY: Damian Desmond has a crush on his fellow first-grade student Anya Forger.
The Laconic subpage for Puppy Love defines the trope as "A canon couple is young enough to still think the other gender has cooties." In other words, a one-sided crush doesn't count, right? They have to actually be an Official Couple despite being kids, unlike the Real Life definiton of the term "puppy love."
On a semi-hiatus from this site due to being busy with other things (may contribute here and there, but nothing major).
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
As written it is Zero Context, not knowing the work I wouldn't be able to tell if it applies since so very little is written down.
the Retromancer
I think it's not an example. Anya doesn't like Damian, and as currently Damian is only being a Tsundere to Anya, they're not that close.
TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
Yeah, kids getting a crush is chairs (I think a First Crush plot where kids learn about feelings is doable but that's neither here nor there); Puppy Love is notable for when they reciprocate and are in a proto-'relationship' at a young age.
I mainly fix indentation issues
(x7) lalalei2001:
Gravity Falls had been always a Mystery/Comedy series, so it was expect that the series would have some big reveals. I don't think this example really count:
- Not really sure about the first, but if I remember correctly, it was uncle Ford the one who want to have the mind erase, but I can be wrong.
- The "Not What He Seems"/"Tale of Two Stans" sound more like Alternative Character Interpretation or just simple Character Development. Not a Retcon, you can move it or cut it.
- The "Society of the Blind Eye" example doesn't change much as it explains why nobody hears about all these quirks the happen in the town. Not Retcon, you can move it or cut it. However, the lost memories one can be Foreshadowing but I not sure.
- the Soos one is just Character Development. Not a Retcon, you can move it or cut it.
- The "Northwest Mansion Noir/Mystery" doesn't change much, because the only Northwest the we know is Pacifica. Her parents don't appear a lot. Not a Retcon, you can move it or cut it.
Edited by SoyValdo7 on Oct 27th 2022 at 12:33:36 PM
Valdo
"The Juice is Loose."
I found this on Live-Action TV:
- Belle and Captain Hook from Once Upon a Time, both of whom started off in secondary roles but were elevated to the central cast due to their popularity—though the latter was done entirely in response to his popularity with the production team (that is, the decision was made before his first episode had aired) and could have become a Creator's Pet if he'd failed to catch on with the fandom.
- Maleficient was also a One-Scene Wonder in the first season and became a main antagonist in the second half of the fourth season.
- Also in the fourth season, Cruella De Vil became so popular that she was brought back as a heavily recurring character in the second half of the fifth season.
Now according to the page this is supposed to be a minor character promoted to main character after the fandom greatly likes that. Though I thought it was also something like say a comic relief or supporting character getting more attention as the show goes. Now Belle fits, but if Captain Hook was already going to be promoted to main character before the audience reaction and the other two never become main characters, due they count as Breakout Characters.
Fan-Preferred Couple cleanup thread
She / Her
(x7) It doesn't sound like an example of Naked People Trapped Outside to me since he wasn't well trapped outside.
To my knowledge, no, the character has to be promoted after they're well-received by the audience.
Cut it.
This was cut from YMMV.Helluva Boss S 2 E 2 Seeing Stars and moved to Discussion.
- Arc Fatigue: Some in the fandom feel that some overarching character stories are beginning to overstay their welcome.
- Loona's continuing ambivalence about Blitzo, while partly clarified that she thinks of him as meaning well, but consistently fucks up and her constant swinging between affection and anger hasn't changed much from the last episode in which her relationship with him was a focus. It probably doesn’t help that she seems to be falling victim to status quo; her heartwarming speech to Octavia about cutting their fathers some slack is practically undone by just going back to beating up Blitzø when he tries to get close.
- The Goetia family drama has once again reared it's hideous head, causing the plot of this episode to kick off. This normally wouldn't be an issue but many feel that this episode is almost an exact duplicate of season 1's "Loo Loo Land", where Octavia is saddened by her parental situation and then the episode finishes with her and Stolas having a heartwarming talk. It even features Stolas, Blitzo and M&M getting into trouble independent of her story in the much the same way. The debate has become how many times are we going to see this plot again before it develops in a meaningful way? It's also the second episode in a row focusing more on Stolas/the Goetias instead of I.M.P, threatening to turn the drama and Stolas into a Spotlight-Stealing Squad.
- Stolas and Blitzo's relationship issues, which seemed on the cusp of a desperately needed turning point. Despite this episode focusing on fatherhood, and despite the narrative providing them ample time to flirt, they never connect on any level save sexual.
It was removed arguing it was too soon in the series (episode 2 of Season 2, 9th ep. total) to say it is going on too long. I personally agree and think these complaints are not about it dragging on but about the progress seemingly being ignored/reset which is a better fit for Snap Back, Aesop Amnesia, or Yo Yo Plot Point.
And if Arc Fatigue does fit, the Discussion currently leans to that it should go under the series YMMV page as opposed to the episodes as you have to take in the whole series to apply it as opposed to it being limited to this episode.
Thoughts?
Is this really an example of an Esoteric Happy Ending?
- Amphibia: The implication that the Anne we've spent the entire series with was actually Killed Off for Real and the Anne sent back to the world of the living is a clone. An exact replica, but a clone nonetheless. Anne noting she'll be experiencing existential dread later on in life is played off for dark laughs, but a good chunk of the fanbase was more unnerved than amused, believing that it's far too mean-spirited that the main protagonist, whose Character Development into a noble young lady we've witnessed, won't find closure in Amphibia, return to Earth with Sasha and Marcy, and live a full and fulfilling life, but instead a simulcrum will. Thus, these fans and others prefer to believe the original Anne's soul and consciousness was placed into a new body, which is admittedly helped by the Guardian's vague choice of words that could lend credence to either interpretation.
This seems like it's blowing a throwaway line out of proportion (and AFAIK the fandom never really treated it as more than that).
Edited by badtothebaritone on Oct 27th 2022 at 2:46:25 PM
She / Her
Maybe delete or hide those examples then waiting for more episodes to come out and removing or keeping them depending on what happens.
I agree that that's a stretch.
I mainly fix indentation issues
It can be an Epileptic Trees exmaple, but you need to rephrased for that.
From Quest for Camelot.
- Stealth Pun: Andrea Bocelli drops by for an Italian version of "The Prayer" over the credits. This is appropriate when you remember that he became blind in a very similar manner to Garrett, after being hit in the head as a child. Was he perhaps the inspiration for Garrett's backstory?
This doesn't sound like a pun to me. Would it fit better under Reality Subtext?
A pun is supposed to be a play on words (where a word can have multiple meanings). This just sounds like a bit of trivia (speculation on inspirations).
I didn't choose the troping life, the troping life chose me
She / Her
To answer your question, while I think Reality Subtext is a closer fit, I still don't think it's an example since it seems kinda speculative to me. EDIT: I also agree it isn't an example of a Stealth Pun.
Edited by RandomTroper123 on Oct 27th 2022 at 2:57:08 AM
I mainly fix indentation issues
Would you consider the books The Ultra Violets, the film Ultraviolet (2006) and the british series Ultraviolet (1998) an example of Names The Same?
Valdo
She / Her
To my understanding of that trope, no. I think it has to be the exact same name.
You might want to check on Trope Finder to make sure something like that doesn't already exist. A quick look around doesn't show me anything, I think Green Thumb comes closest, but that's about characters who have plant based powers.
I didn't choose the troping life, the troping life chose me