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. We don't discuss Complete Monster or Magnificent Bastard examples; please don't bring them up.
Edited by SeptimusHeap on Jul 17th 2025 at 8:59:01 PM
Is this a valid Master-Apprentice Chain?
- Whis was trained by his older sister Vados. He then goes on to teach Beerus, Goku, and Vegeta.
Is it still Bluff the Impostor if someone says something that would bluff an impostor, only they're talking to the genuine article who naturally sees through it?
In Rebloom [1]
, Licorice Cookie suggests that Dark Enchantress Cookie likes matcha tea for its taste, but the actual reason she likes it is that it reminds her of her sister. This was clearly intended to bait out a hypothetical impostor, but since White Lily Cookie is in fact Dark Enchantress Cookie and not an impostor, she just tells him the actual reason.
Edited by wingedcatgirl on Dec 3rd 2022 at 12:39:12 PM
Suddenly I'm... still rotating Fallen London in my mind even though I've stopped actively playing it.In season 4 of The Dragon Prince, the Official Couple Callum and Rayla are in a bit of a rough patch with Callum still upset at her for leaving for two years, after she returns.
Since its mostly Callum being confrontational, does this qualify as, Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other? Or just in the episode,The Drakewood which has them get into an argument, only to almost hug at the end.
Good evening, everyone. Can a moment with Single Tear has been played with Dull Surprise? Example: Sam always had Dull Surprise, but when he sees that his house is painted in the blood of his family, he sheds a single tear, but without changing his emotionlessly-expressionless expression.
Edited by Fidor on Dec 3rd 2022 at 8:51:54 PM
(x5) The main page for Roaring Rampage of Revenge doesn't specify how long it needs to be. However, it doesn't sound like anyone died, which is part of the trope. Therefore, I feel it doesn't count.
(x4) It doesn't cover the part about there being a third apprentice, so it's not an example imo.
From Trivia.Fraggle Rock:
- Channel Hop:
- After HBO canceled the show, reruns aired on TNT from 1988–92, and then on Disney Channel until 1996.
- The home video rights have bounced between several distributors throughout the years, most notably Disney (under the "Jim Henson Video" label), HIT Entertainment (with 20th Century Fox and Lionsgate handling distribution at different points), Vivendi Entertainment, and most recently Sony Pictures, who released the series on Blu Ray for its 35th anniversary.
- The animated series first aired on NBC, and was later rerun around 1990 on Disney Channel (prior to the network picking up the original show).
- Likewise with the animated series, HIT included the occasional episode on compilation DVDs as bonus features. Lionsgate, Vivendi and Sony have each since released the complete animated series at different points, Lionsgate doing an individual set in 2010, Vivendi including the series as a bonus feature in their release, and Sony doing both a DVD release concurrent with their release, and including all the content (13 episodes and a couple featurettes) as one big bonus feature on the ninth disc of the Blu-ray set.
- As of 2022, the series is now available on Apple TV+.
- The same is true in Japan (a Japanese-subbed version and an ongoing new dub). The original Japanese dub ran on several NHK channels (primarily on NHK General TV, but also on NHK Educational TV and BS) between 1986 and 1992.
I wonder which ones are valid examples and which ones aren't?
Edited by gjjones on Dec 3rd 2022 at 1:25:37 PM
He/His/Him. No matter who you are, always Be Yourself.
(x6) I'm leaning on saying that doesn't count as Bluff the Impostor since she's not an impostor. And, even if she was, the bluff didn't work.
(x5) I don't think that counts as Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other since you're not discussing a particular moment which shows deep down that they care about each other.
(x4) Since his expression was still blank while he shed that Single Tear, I still feel Dull Surprise counts.
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I don't feel those Channel Hop entries count since the show had ended at the time.
I agree that that detail isn't enough to confirm whether or not her fam is dead or not.
Does this qualify as an example of Contrasting Sequel Antagonist?
- In Old West, a continuation fic of Rango, Dufayel is this to Tortoise John. Tortoise John was the mayor of Dirt's desert town who was good at hiding his villainous nature with charisma. Dufayel is a wealthy city slicker who, despite his politeness, never really hides his motivations or condescending nature in-story. They both intend to wipe out the town of Dirt (renamed as Mud), but for different reasons; Tortoise John was a Visionary Villain who wanted to create a modern city, while Dufayel's entire motivation is to claim from underneath the town the gold he was promised and needs to avoid becoming broke. Tortoise John turned Rango into his pawn by making him Dirt's sheriff and hired the services of Rattlesnake Jake, pitting them against each other until he tried to kill Jake. Dufayel in turn quickly makes himself an enemy to both Rango and Jake who work together against him right from the start.
starritofan added this pre-commented-out example on YMMV.Deltarune, stating in the edit summary that they didn't know whether or not it applied for the trope:
- Sidetracked by the Gold Saucer: An interesting variant - while still (possibly) story-relevant, the sidequests to reach and fight the SuperBosses are overall the most popular parts of each chapter despite being relatively hidden within each chapter, due to having access to the most unique characters in the game.
Personally, I don't think the superboss sidequests count given that they don't involve any minigames, but I felt it'd be worth bringing up here. I'll also PM starritofan letting them know about this thread. Be kind.
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I feel that counts as Contrasting Sequel Antagonist entry because it involves two baddies that contrast each other, with one technically being introduced after the other.
Firstly, we're not supposed to add pre-commented-out examples. As for whether or not that counts as Sidetracked by the Gold Saucer, I feel so because sidequests can count.
From YMMV.The Dropout:
- Unintentionally Sympathetic: At the beginning of the series, Elizabeth Holmes as portrayed in the series may come across as more sympathetic than her actions would justify; she has a Freudian Excuse of distant parents who took a financial blow, suffered a sexual assault in college, was ostracized by classmates, had trouble being taken seriously as a young student, and was treated with sexism compared to her male peers. Scaachi Koul from BuzzFeed News seems to agree
:
"Many people watching the show already know the company didn’t really function, that the technology never worked, and that Holmes and her coconspirators are likely to face legal consequences for their malfeasance. So what's left for a dramatization to explore? Nothing beyond the humanization of someone who maybe doesn't deserve it."- This is downplayed by the end of the series, where she is unambiguously framed as the villain: she treats employees cruelly (to the point where she seems outright relieved that she inadvertently pushed one to suicide, as it's good for her legal prospects) and inhumanely, threatens or manipulates many people around her, exploits a family member's medical death as a PR strategy, treats her workplace like a police state, and allows patients to be treated with technology she knows to be highly flawed, knowing it can cause serious medical issues. She gets called out by multiple people who recognize that she's hurting real people, and she's contrasted with other characters who make it clear that she's not a victim, and that she can't even bemoan not being taken seriously because she never deserved to be taken seriously, ultimately turning her earlier narrative on its head.
1.- Bad indentation.
2.- The example is arguing with itself
Valdo![]()
I feel that Unintentionally Sympathetic entry at least should be rewritten, though I agree that the indentation is bad.
I'm glad I was helpful.
Is the following really a deconstruction of Asskicking Leads to Leadership? The character is already troped as Fascist, but Inefficient and General Failure. It seems to me that if those two tropes are in play, then listing this one as a deconstruction is shoehorning — otherwise every single General Failure example would be a deconstruction by default; that's either not right, or General Failure would be the correct place for such a "deconstruction".
- Asskicking Equals Authority: Deconstructed. Adam's superhuman fighting skills made him a very dangerous man when leading missions for the White Fang, and it earned him great respect from other members of the White Fang and the favor of the organization's High Leader, Sienna Khan. This led to him being made the leader of the Vale chapter of the White Fang, and furthermore it's largely due to Adam's battle prowess that the White Fang's rank and file sides with him when he kills Khan and takes her place as High Leader. However once he takes over the White Fang it soon becomes obvious that his skill in personal combat does not translate into ability as a general or overall leader. With no authority figure left to temper his overly ambitious goals or his obsession with avenging personal slights, he becomes increasingly reactionary, unstable, and prone to making thoughtless blunders. His attempt to assassinate Blake's family turns the everyday Faunus on Menagerie (who had been intent on sitting out the conflict), against the White Fang and leads them to join forces with Mistral authorities to foil the White Fang's attack on Haven. Then Adam's inability to think of the larger picture and his spitefulness cause him to attempt to set off bombs that would have killed himself and his followers as well as their enemies simply to avoid admitting defeat. The pointless massacre is prevented only because Ilia sabotaged the explosives, and his carelessness with their lives shakes the faith of Adam's troops. The very last blow to Adam's reputation comes when he abandons his followers to escape imprisonment, which makes the remainder of the White Fang refuse to follow him any longer. Adam responded by furiously lashing out and slaughtering them. In short, fighting ability led to Adam being promoted to a position of power and then seizing leadership, but he was so unsuited for any kind of non-combat leadership that he effectively destroyed the White Fang as an organization mere months after he came to power.
Edited by Wyldchyld on Dec 3rd 2022 at 3:33:41 AM
If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.In Smoking Causes Coughing a woman literally lives in a fridge (it is in fact not a fridge but let's not split hairs). While this is certainly not a straight example of Stuffed into the Fridge, is there something to say about this trope?
@wingedcatgirl: I think that counts as an attempted Bluff the Imposter.
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Stuffed into the Fridge has literally nothing to do with refrigerators except via the trope namer. Unless there's some kind of joke specifically referencing it ("Why do you live in a refrigerator? Are you a superhero's girlfriend or something?") it's safe to say that what you're describing is completely unrelated to that trope.
Edited by nrjxll on Dec 3rd 2022 at 7:05:31 AM
I have been pondering over this entry in The Owl House YMMV.
- Strangled by the Red String: During the first season some reviews found Luz and Amity's relationship progressed way too fast, especially regarding Amity's development from bully to lovable nerd. Some suspected that Dana Terrace was worried the show wouldn't make it past one season and she needed to put the intended pairing on-screen with no room for people to deny it was canon while she was sure she could.
While the example could work for Season 1 (Though I haven't seen any people saying it myself), in light of Season 2 and Season 3 I have seen people actually praising the story for bringing them together before the Season 2 finale, and the fandom is basically unanimous in their unbridled praise for how well Lumity is written, how their development as a mutual crush and then a proper romantic couple, does it really count anymore? At the very least should the entry be rewritten?
"Us weirdos have to stick together!"- What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart, Anyway?:
- Unlike its deadly manga counterpart, Sailor Chibi Moon's "Pink Sugar Heart Attack" is a nuisance at best and often doesn't work at all in the anime. Played for Laughs. Justified because she's a Guardian In Training and doesn't come into real power until SuperS. Except for that one time she uses it against Tellu.
- "Moon Princess Halation" is also weaker in comparison to the manga, on the anime, it's able to destroy droids and weaken enemies. On the manga, one blow is enough to vaporize almost anything instantly, so much that a double blow is all that is needed to destroy Death Phantom.
I am pretty sure this isnt the right trope for these examples.
As long as this flower is in my heart. My Strength will flow without end.Would this count as an inversion or aversion of Heroism Won't Pay the Bills? (The examples are from Final Fantasy XIV),
- Heroism Won't Pay the Bills:
- Inverted. It's noted that their work as an adventurer pays quite well, nevermind their many accolades as the Warrior of Light. When Alphinaud uses the Scions' coffers to buy back Gosetsu's sword, the Warrior can offer to foot the bill despite it costing as much as a furnished estate. During the Stormblood Hildibrand quest, they're able to bid 900,000 gold koban to try and outbid a merchant after the inspector is mistaken for a statue. When they whine about not having a Garlond Ironworks outfit of their own, Jessie says that the gear they're wearing is expensive enough to buy a house.
- Inverted again during the Four Lords questline. Genbu makes good on his deal with the Warrior and Tataru when the latter reminds him of their earlier business arrangement. For quelling the aramitama of the Four Lords and helping to halt the threat of Koryu for another few millenia, the Scions are shipped an enormous crate filled to the brim with solid gold bars.
Edited by reppuzan on Dec 3rd 2022 at 8:45:42 AM

In the Dimension 20 series Neverafter, Little Red Riding Hood tries to return home after her encounter with the wolf, only to find that her family has barred the door and refuses to let her in because they think that she is the wolf. When they do finally let her in, it turns out to be a trap, and she gets stabbed with a silver dagger. At this point, something wolfish takes over and she rages at her mother, throws a table at her family (who hadn't escaped the house yet) and "blows them all away" Big Bad Wolf-style. Is this a Roaring Rampage of Revenge, or is it too short-term?