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
I don't think this counts. According to Legends of Localization
, the "heavenly" part isn't an accurate translation, not to mention that Elite Four is easier to fit onto a Game Boy screen. Should I remove this example?
HoMM Fan
I mean, if it's not true or accurate, it's safe to remove (with a citation of course)
"Grandmaster Combat, son!"Question. This example was added to the M-Z works page for Housepets! recently. The entry was a mess and (among other things, badly indented), but I edited it and left it up for now.
What I can't tell is whether it's in fact an example of this trope or not. Part of the issue is that I find the trope itself confusing — in fact, I have no idea what this means. Here's how it stands on the page now:
- Subterfuge Judo: In the "Not All Dogs" story arc, King doesn't think much of the fate stopwatch that falls from the sky onto his head and throws it into a dumpster, until Sabrina reveals that the watch is important to his very existence. Desperately going back, he can't find it; later, with Fox, King finds that Bino found the watch and is keeping it for himself. When King tries to demand it back here
, saying that it doesn't have Bino's name on it, the latter says "Then let's see, who is this Joel person?" — at which point Fox perks up in fear, while King grits his teeth in frustration. Fox later changes his mind and stands his ground about Bino keeping the watch here
, during which time King pleads to have it.
Fox: That watch belongs to the guy that kidnapped me. For all I care Bino can do whatever he wants. Don't get mixed up in this.
King: But I—
Fox: My dad gives me a real big allowance. I'll buy you a watch if you really want one.
King: But I need that watch.
Fox: I am not being light about this, King. Unless you have a profoundly good reason to expect my support, I can't do anything. Is there something you need to tell me?
[King has an Imagine Spot about Sabrina revealing the nature of the watch, who King really is, and Fox breaking off their friendship from those reasons, in anger.]
King: [aside, to himself] Oh Thanks for that, Brain.
Fox: What?
King: I mean... No
Thanks!
Is this Evolving Music, Variable Mix, or both? We were initially going to list it under Evolving Music, but then we second-guessed ourself...
- Final Fantasy XIV: The final area of the Endwalker expansion starts off with an eerie droning BGM, befitting its status as a husk at the edge of the universe inhabited only by the memories of dead civilizations. However, as you progress through the area and the Scions sacrifice themselves to open the way forward, instruments and eventually vocals get added, gradually turning it into an uplifting ballad befitting your purpose of proving to the Endsinger that life is worth living even if it must all inevitably end.
That sounds like Variable Mix.
I just added this to Trivia.Craig Of The Creek, but does it really count?
- Cowboy BeBop at His Computer: The official HBO Max Family YouTube channel has a video called "Jessica Battles the Anti-Sparkle
". The character who actually battles the Anti-Sparkle is Sparkle Cadet, a completely different character and even the namesake of the episode in question.
Can this be removed from Hijacked Destiny for being a shoehorn?
I've removed it once before, but it was added back by someone on the grounds of Tropes Are Flexible and the trope doesn't have to be about stealing a Chosen One's destiny at all — except the trope is very explicit about being exactly that. The entry is basically latching onto the idea that dying Maidens pass on a Super-Empowering to the person who is in their final thoughts (if that person is eligible) and equating it to the role of The Chosen One (simply because the word 'choice' is involved).
- RWBY: Cinder Fall uses a Power Parasite Grimm to steal part of Amber's Fall Maiden powers. While Cinder is mostly just after the power, the Maidens have a key role in the fight against the Big Bad Salem. Since Cinder is working for Salem, this lets Salem undermine the efforts against her. Pyrrha Nikos was supposed to get the rest of Amber's power, but Cinder brutally murders her to claim it for herself, then kills Pyrrha. Cinder even has the gall to claim that the power was hers by right the entire time, and Pyrrha was promised something that was never hers. It's later revealed that Cinder wants the power of all four Maidens, and she seeks out the Spring and Winter Maidens to consume their power. The Spring Maiden, Raven, is able to fight her off and nearly kills her. The Winter Maiden, Fria, is able to repel her and gift the powers to Penny, who later gives them to Winter. Cinder is so obsessed with becoming the true Maiden that she'll prioritize gaining the power over Salem's plans, something that nearly gets her killed more than once.
Context: before the show starts, Cinder (The Heavy) steals half of the Fall Maiden's power before being interrupted by one of the heroes, leaving the Fall Maiden comatose, and her hunting for the remaining half. During the show, the Benevolent Conspiracy (led by the Big Good) asks Pyrrha to step in and take this remaining power to protect it from Cinder. Cinder interrupts the transfer, thereby becoming the full Fall Maiden.
In this work, The Chosen One is the Big Good (chosen by gods to save humanity). The Hero (Ruby) is The Unchosen One, who is currently in charge for several reasons (one being that the newbie Chosen One is a kid (Oscar) who is going through an It Sucks to Be the Chosen One situation). Although the Big Good created the original Maidens by giving them most of his magic, he never gave up his role as The Chosen One. In fact, it's a plot point that his refusal to share that burden has led to The Unchosen One taking charge.
Pyrrha's definition of "destiny" is effectively The Unchosen One, explicitly rejecting the notion of The Chosen One (a fate placed upon a person they cannot escape); she is also an inspiration for Ruby becoming The Unchosen One. There is no indication Cinder knows The Chosen One concept exists, or that she'd care if she did know. All she wants is power.
Edited by Wyldchyld on Feb 3rd 2022 at 4:58:08 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.From Creator Killer:
- Isao Takahata was a frequent presence as a co-founder of Studio Ghibli and for writing/directing quite a few films such as Grave of the Fireflies and Only Yesterday. However, Takahata took a hiatus from directing after his 1999 film, My Neighbors the Yamadas, became a Box-Office Bomb. Takahata returned to directing and writing one last time with The Tale of the Princess Kaguya in 2013.
Is this a valid example or should it be removed?
He/His/Him. No matter who you are, always Be Yourself.From Series.The Good Doctor:
- No Antagonist: Zig-zagged. Most of the time there is not a traditional villain in this series - medical bureaucracy or an occasional Jerkass patient are the main things causing the conflict; a Big Bad normally doesn't fit the narrative of mant episodes. The Jerkass patient occasionally realizes they were wrong, and the conflict gets resolved quickly. A lot of the time the conflict comes from Shaun and his misunderstanding of social conventions due to the nature of his disability, or trying to solve a medical problem than an Arc Villain. However, the only real exceptions were:
- Kenny from Season 1 was more of a Harmless Villain leeching off Shaun when he started living as a room-mate with Leah who was never seen again after a few episodes, but he was more of a antagonist than a true over-arching villain.
- Dr. Morgan Reznick, a major character introduced in "She", Season 1, Episode 14, about Transgender individual, although it took the next two seasons for her to gain Character Development, and while never at a Bully Turned Buddy level, she became less hostile towards Shaun.
- The only character who could be seen as a true villain would be Jackson Han at the start of Season 2 who is a Jerkass and uses Blackmail in the episode "Quarantine", but he's closer to a Hate Sink than traditional villain in terms of behavior.
- The Spook: Nathalie Beauchemin (portrayed by Meghan Heffern) who was a One-Shot Character in "Heartbreak", Season 3, Episode 18, appears with no backstory and the most we ever learn is that she is loyal to her boyfriend, has a dwarf cheating boyfriend who has no remorse for cheating on her. Other than that, her past, backstory is unknown. Fanon speculates on what her real origins are, or if it's even her real name.
Are these examples or trope misuse?
Are the following examples from Decomposite Character being misused seeing as how neither of these works are adaptations, the first is two shows made by the same creator and the second is a Sequel Series:
- Futurama being a Spiritual Successor to The Simpsons has similar archetypes in the cast that are broken up.
- Homer’s role as lazy alcoholic Idiot Hero who is also very romantic, is split up between Fry and Bender. Bender has Homer’s booze drinking, short temper and a blue collar connection with a Bad Boss in form of Mr Burns/Mom while Fry the hero has Homer’s loveably idiotic qualities as well as his devoted love for a more capable woman (Marge for Homer and Leela for Fry).
- Also both Fry and Bender take a lot elements from Bart, being immature pranksters.
- Marge and Lisa have their roles divided up between both Leela and Amy. Leela has the sensible maternal qualities of Marge while Amy gets Marge’s friendly Dude Magnet traits. When it comes to Lisa, Leela has her role as social outcast and activist while Amy gets her gifted genius-level intellect.
- Grandpa Simpson’s role as Grumpy Old Man Butt-Monkey and Funny Background Event to the main family’s antics is divvy upped between Professor Farnsworth and Zoidberg. The Professor naturally has the embarrassing and annoying senile grandfather traits but with a more central role, whilst Zoidberg has Grandpa’s humorous background antics and is likewise ignored frequently by the main cast.
- Homer’s role as lazy alcoholic Idiot Hero who is also very romantic, is split up between Fry and Bender. Bender has Homer’s booze drinking, short temper and a blue collar connection with a Bad Boss in form of Mr Burns/Mom while Fry the hero has Homer’s loveably idiotic qualities as well as his devoted love for a more capable woman (Marge for Homer and Leela for Fry).
- The Legend of Korra while it mostly has Composite Characters of the original Avatar cast, does have a Decomposite Character when it comes to Katara who’s character and archetype is split into Korra and Asami. Korra the eponymous heroine has the similar appearance, name, tribe and Making a Splash powers as well as Healing Hands to Katara, while Asami has Katara’s gentler qualities such as being Cool Big Sis and Team Mom in addition to being the Love Interest.
And are the following examples from And Just Like That... and it's YMMV page being used correctly?:
- Alternate Universe: Played with. The series takes place in a version of the present where the COVID-19 pandemic is apparently over (its existence is briefly acknowledged in the first episode), with face masks and social distancing non-existent.
- Hollywood Old: Played With. While the actors are roughly the same age as their characters, fans have complained that several characters come across as exaggeratedly old and feeble for being in their mid-50s. Major offenders are Steve, who needs hearing aidsnote ; Big, who has heart trouble; and Carrie, who believes she's suffering from arthritis until her doctor specifically says she doesn't have an old-person disease.
- Uncanny Valley: An editorial in The Atlantic
argued that the series has a stranger relationship with reality than most TV series, almost taking place in a slightly different Alternate Universe:
"It’s a little like a face that has had just a tad too much work done: You can’t stop looking at it, but largely to figure out what, exactly, has happened here to make it feel so unnatural. The attempts to “put a finger” on what’s going on with And Just Like That… have occupied the zeitgeist. The commentary has mainly focused on the series’s strange relationship to reality across the board, from the pandemic to 'wokeness' to aging to what to do when one finds a loved one experiencing cardiac arrest."
In The Book of Boba Fett, Boba, of course, takes over as the new daimyo of the former Hutt crime gang, and intends to rule with respect and a great deal of honor. While still a criminal, he avoids violence and uses alternative methods of apprehending his enemies and/or stopping their plans when necessary. However, the crime lords he faces, as well as the Pyke Syndicate which he must unite them in fighting to protect Tatooine, are ruthless, cold-blooded, and firmly evil. I'm seeing some Black-and-Gray Morality here, but am not sure if Boba being Affably Evil would make him Grey or A Lighter Shade of Black.
Pencil/Pen scribbling sounds*From YMMV.Spider Man No Way Home:
- They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot:
- The fact that The Lizard from The Amazing Spider Man is one of the multiversal villains could have been brought up by Tobey Maguire’s Peter since he was very close with his own Dr. Connors and we could have found out if he became The Lizard during the time after Spider-Man 3. Instead, all we get is one throwaway line from him acknowledging the Lizard is in the fight during the final battle, with no acknowledgement of Connors.
I mean this again sound like "fans wanted this to happen" instead of an interesting plot point the film brings up but then fail to utilize the trope is supposed to be. Am I missing something here?
Fan-Preferred Couple cleanup thread![]()
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I agree the Futurama ones are probably shoehorns if only because they're using multiple characters to break down, rather than breaking one character into multiple. The characters fit the same tropes but I don't think they're deliberately based off Simpsons characters (though they draw some comparisons in the crossover).
Reposting from earlier page:
From CelebrityParadox.Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- Hawkeye:
- In "Hide and Seek", Clint and Kate pass a band of street performers dressed up as superheroes, one of them dressed as Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games films feature Chris Hemsworth (Thor)'s brother Liam as Gale Hawthorne.
Does "this actor's relative was in this work" count as Celebrity Paradox?
It shouldn't, especially considering C. Hemsworth isn't even in'Hawkeye'. If you can invent a fourth Hemsworth out of whole cloth you can also assume there are only 2 Hemsworth brothers in the MCU.
Actually, that page has been bugging me for a really long time; time to make a thread.
Edited by Synchronicity on Feb 4th 2022 at 12:56:50 PM
Would making fun of certain parts of a different fandom still count as an example of Straw Fan? I'm asking because I was going to upload a video example from The Amazing World of Gumball that takes potshots at the nastier sides of the Star Wars fandom.
Feel free to help with the sandbox or edit my troper wallI think I think still counts if it is strawmanning a specific type of fan to mock.
I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.I have a question. Can Creator Backlash count if the creator is proud of the work but hated the production and marketing for the film? For example, Tom Holland has been very vocal in his pride in the final product of No Way Home, but the Spider-Man: No Way Home has this entry
- Creator Backlash: Not so much towards the film itself as the film's publicity tour. Tom Holland stated that he, along with other members of the cast, were annoyed about having to lie about the content of the movie for the sake of artificially preserving secrets that had already leaked onto the Internet and were more or less common knowledge to the fandom at large. Holland has also expressed frustration with the unpredictable filming process caused by both the previously mentioned on-set secrecy and the COVID-19 Pandemic, particularly the constant changing of the third act.
So my question is does this fit the current definition which from what I can tell based on the description and the Laconic is about a creator being displeased or hating their work?
Fan-Preferred Couple cleanup threadThis was originally a Bloody Mess ZCE. The bold parts are stuff I added in a few moments ago.
- Phineas and Ferb, of all shows, pulled this one off in "Hip Hip Parade". At the end of the episode, Phineas, Ferb, and Isabella are splashed with jelly from jelly donuts.
Thing is, this was an Ending Gag brought about by Buford's bottomless stomach, and no mention of or reference to blood is made. Even then, Ferb would probably be the only one out of the three to bring up something like that (I don't count Baljeet because he wasn't splashed) but instead he says something else. Therefore, I believe this is grounds for cutting.
I found this in YMMV page of Nightmare Alley (2021) .Since some example are mistaken as The Woobie, do you think this tearjerker examples needs go to Moments" cleanup and maintenance?
- Tear Jerker:
- As horrible as Stan is, it's actually quite sad to see him become a homeless, alcoholic wreck at the end of the movie, who is so desperate for work that he agrees to be a geek, established as the lowest of the low amongst carnival workers.
- The power of a "spook show" over its audience is emphasized, with mentalists able to tap into the deep loss so many people feel; this makes the Kimballs' murder-suicide especially horrific, as Stan took their love and bereavement and twisted it into something destructive.
- Molly, easily the kindest and most innocent character, is manipulated constantly by Stan and ends the movie on the run, her fate unknown.
Edited by Bubblepig on Feb 5th 2022 at 3:50:31 AM
"Now it's starting to feel like a game!"![]()
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By a strict reading, Creator Backlash refers only to backlash against the work itself. Unless a more fitting trope / trivia item can be found, though, I'd be inclined to let it stay, as Tropes Are Flexible.
Edited by cremasochist on Feb 5th 2022 at 3:53:32 AM
From my previous post
, is okay if I remove this for being misusing the Hijacked Destiny trope? (Maidens are not The Chosen One, so there's no special destiny for the villain to steal; the villain is merely stealing power because she's power-hungry.)
- RWBY: Cinder Fall uses a Power Parasite Grimm to steal part of Amber's Fall Maiden powers. While Cinder is mostly just after the power, the Maidens have a key role in the fight against the Big Bad Salem. Since Cinder is working for Salem, this lets Salem undermine the efforts against her. Pyrrha Nikos was supposed to get the rest of Amber's power, but Cinder brutally murders her to claim it for herself, then kills Pyrrha. Cinder even has the gall to claim that the power was hers by right the entire time, and Pyrrha was promised something that was never hers. It's later revealed that Cinder wants the power of all four Maidens, and she seeks out the Spring and Winter Maidens to consume their power. The Spring Maiden, Raven, is able to fight her off and nearly kills her. The Winter Maiden, Fria, is able to repel her and gift the powers to Penny, who later gives them to Winter. Cinder is so obsessed with becoming the true Maiden that she'll prioritize gaining the power over Salem's plans, something that nearly gets her killed more than once.
Edited by Wyldchyld on Feb 5th 2022 at 5:18:33 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.

Cut Cut CUT!
As long as this flower is in my heart. My Strength will flow without end.