TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Cleaning Up Needless References To Reviewers

Go To

Throughout this site, some tropers have a habit of adding in potholes and references to their favorite reviewers in entries, e.g. "Come see (reviewer)'s take on it here!"

Not only is it often unnecessary, but in some cases if the critic in question is a Caustic Critic it can be used to invite complaining, on top of crossing over into Reviews Are the Gospel territory since these tropers often treat these reviewers as if their opinion is fact.

Per this thread in Wiki Talk, this thread has been created in Long-Term Projects to clean up this kind of thing and Reviews Are the Gospel-type stuff in general.

REMEMBER: This criteria, made by mightymewtron, should be followed for knowing when to keep reviewer potholes:

If it's a widespread opinion and the entry can stand on its own, and the reviewer just helps explain it, then I don't think it's doing harm.

Edited by themayorofsimpleton on Feb 3rd 2021 at 3:28:10 PM

mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#401: Dec 28th 2021 at 8:40:05 PM

Maybe move it to an In-Universe example on Enter's work page.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
Anddrix Since: Oct, 2014
#402: Jan 5th 2022 at 2:08:02 AM

This was added to the top of ProtagonistCenteredMorality.Live Action TV:

"Carrie Bradshaw is obviously the main character of Sex and the City and its forthcoming reboot, And Just Like That..., but what's really annoying — and relevant — is the way that characters act like she knows she's starring in her own show."

SpongeBat1 We stan Clippy in this house from Quittersville, Failuretown, and Loserburg (Y2: Electric Boogaloo) Relationship Status: It's a god-awful small affair
We stan Clippy in this house
#403: Jan 5th 2022 at 9:44:51 AM

[up]That's both unnecessary and doesn't explain how it's this trope either.

Came for the tropes, stayed for the cleanup.
Anddrix Since: Oct, 2014
#404: Jan 7th 2022 at 4:13:47 PM

Bringing up these examples from On Deadly Ground and it's YMMV page:

  • Kick Them While They Are Down: The film contains several drawn-out torture scenes, such as when Forrest's friend Hugh is beaten with a pipe cutter. Not just on the part of the villains though; Forrest has several scenes where he continues to bully people even when he's already beaten them, such as a very lengthy and painful fight in the bar. And, as Film Brain pointed out, Forrest murders Jennings at the end of the movie, even though he was unarmed, outmatched, and totally unable to defend himself.

  • Anvilicious: The movie's environmental message, which Roger Ebert disparaged as "sanctimonious". The oil tycoon villain is so mean, he can't even stand the smell of caribou to film one commercial.
  • Inferred Holocaust: As Film Brain pointed out, Forrest blowing up an oil rig will cause more environmental damage than letting it run normally. Also doubling as Moral Dissonance.

  • Nightmare Fuel: Hugh's torture scene. An old man is bound to a chair and his fingers broken with a whale bone and later a pipe cutter is used on him. Part of this scene, according to Film Brain, is cut from the UK release, and when he says that the scene is better trimmed, he's right, since enough of the scene played out still gives us what we need to hate the characters.

MisterApes-a-lot Since: Mar, 2018
#405: Jan 7th 2022 at 6:34:29 PM

[up]

  • Not sure the Film Brain reference is necessary if it's just stating an objective fact about the movie.
  • Could take or leave the Ebert reference, honestly.
  • Probably not necessary to mention Film Brain here.
  • Could just remove the second sentence entirely. If it has to be kept, cut it down to "Part of this scene is cut from the UK release."

Anddrix Since: Oct, 2014
#406: Jan 9th 2022 at 2:51:56 PM

Bringing up the following examples from One Moment in Time:

  • CPR: Clean, Pretty, Reliable: How Peter brings back Aunt May. (Yes, he treated a gunshot wound with CPR.)

  • Hate Fic: Both One More Day and One Moment in Time are essentially responses to "The Wedding!" (Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21) which Quesada outright hates. In OMIT, he does it by taking panels from the original and then showing how Peter missed his wedding, which is essentially a blackly comedic slapstick moment where a random thug hits Peter on the head with a brick making him pass out. Mark Ginocchio pointed out why this was bad practice:
    "As hyperbolic as this might sound, by inserting original pages from ASM Annual #21 into a new comic that changes the events of those pages, Quesada and Rivera are essentially vandalizing one of the most historic Spider-Man issues of the modern era...Ultimately, the creative decision reads like it’s supposed to punch the reader in the gut — here’s what happened EXACTLY AS YOU REMEMBERED IT, but now we’re going to change it because we think what Shooter did was a mistake."

MisterApes-a-lot Since: Mar, 2018
#407: Jan 9th 2022 at 3:29:01 PM

First one doesn't add anything. I guess the second one is fine.

Anddrix Since: Oct, 2014
#408: Jan 10th 2022 at 6:41:10 AM

Bringing up this example from One More Day:

  • Idiot Plot: Mephisto is an idiot as well. He gains absolutely nothing by this petty act of vindictiveness. Sure, he's a Prince of Hell, and Evil Is Petty is expected, but this doesn't even cause that much damage; when you consider that he is the premier Satanic Archetype of this world, it's Poke the Poodle territory compared to what he could be doing (he's long had this problem, but this is a career low). Moreover, his claim that trying to buy the soul of a hero who makes a Heroic Sacrifice is a hollow victory (because they "suffer righteously" knowing that their deal did some good), retroactively makes him more of an idiot because a vast number of his schemes have been attempts to do just that.
    • This was perfectly summarized by Bob Chipman in one of the first episodes of his show The Big Picture:
      Bob Chipman: So, if you think about it, Spider-Man not only made a deal with the Devil, he actually came out of it pretty damn good! He gets his aunt saved, his buddy gets back to life, his identity is secured, he still gets to have a long term relationship with a damned supermodel back then and fool around with kinky sex-addicted cat girls now... Basically all Satan gets is the thrill of blinking some bridal photos out of existence. Aaah... Ouch? I guess? So let that be a lesson, kids! If you screw up and need to make a deal with the devil, make sure it's with the Marvel devil. That guy's no idea of what he's doing!

Nen_desharu Nintendo Fanatic Extraordinaire from Greater Smash Bros. Universe or Toronto Since: Aug, 2020 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Nintendo Fanatic Extraordinaire
#409: Jan 11th 2022 at 5:26:37 PM

Not really a reviewer, but the RPG — Eastern folder in Arbitrary Headcount Limit has a quote from 8-Bit Theater in the Final Fantasy example.

* The Final Fantasy series is a repeated offender:
Quote partially censored by myself when posting here (though uncensored in the actual page)

Edited by Nen_desharu on Jan 11th 2022 at 8:27:41 AM

Kirby is awesome.
bowserbros No longer active. from Elsewhere Since: May, 2014
No longer active.
#410: Jan 11th 2022 at 8:46:51 PM

[up]You could probably split off the 8-Bit Theater quote into a point in the Webcomics folder about how it parodies Final Fantasy's propensity for the Arbitrary Headcount Limit.

Edited by bowserbros on Jan 11th 2022 at 8:47:08 AM

Be kind.
Nen_desharu Nintendo Fanatic Extraordinaire from Greater Smash Bros. Universe or Toronto Since: Aug, 2020 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Nintendo Fanatic Extraordinaire
#411: Jan 12th 2022 at 9:12:37 PM

[up]There's already an 8-Bit Theater example in the Webcomics folder, which was ZCE as it only had a link but no other context.

I fixed two problems at once by moving the quote to that example in the Webcomics folder, thereby providing context.

Edited by Nen_desharu on Jan 12th 2022 at 12:13:15 PM

Kirby is awesome.
Anddrix Since: Oct, 2014
#412: Jan 21st 2022 at 2:01:39 AM

Bringing up this example from Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

  • Base-Breaking Character:
    • This incarnation of April O'Neil is pretty divisive. While many are happy that she was reimagined as black, adding diversity to a long-running franchise, some of those in favor of the Race Lift have complained that her character design strays a bit too far from her usual depictions, essentially making her a different character entirely. The Mysterious Mr. Enter outright compared her to The Scrappy's Trope Namer, saying that she always jumps into a situation that she logically shouldn't be able to handle, whether or not this is annoying or endearing is up to the viewer. On the other hand, Enter's review of the series has been accused of Critical Research Failure, as he only watched a few episodes of the series and there were also many instances where April asked for help and went through significant character development as the show went on.

mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#413: Jan 21st 2022 at 6:27:25 AM

Centering an item that relies on widespread fandom opinion around the opinions of a certain reviewer isn't a great sign. Plus it's a little too focused on the Race Lift and not her other characteristics, though I see other character traits do come up. Anybody familiar with the show able to chime in?

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
SpongeBat1 We stan Clippy in this house from Quittersville, Failuretown, and Loserburg (Y2: Electric Boogaloo) Relationship Status: It's a god-awful small affair
We stan Clippy in this house
#414: Jan 21st 2022 at 8:56:03 AM

Not up on RotTMNT but considering this is the same guy who clearly only watched the first few episodes and called the animation "lazy" I think it can go.

Came for the tropes, stayed for the cleanup.
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#415: Jan 21st 2022 at 9:02:23 AM

[up] Well, the entry is in part about Enter's problematic reasoning. The issue is whether any part of the fanbase agrees with him, whether we think they're justified or not.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
costanton11 Since: Mar, 2016
#416: Jan 21st 2022 at 9:42:47 AM

The example seems to argue with itself by stating what he said and then why it's inaccurate, so the whole section about Enter can probably go.

miraculous Goku Black (Apprentice)
Goku Black
#417: Jan 21st 2022 at 9:53:28 AM

I should note that the fanbase doesn't at all agree with Enter. His entire review was panned and is poorly researched anyways.

"That's right mortal. By channeling my divine rage into power, I have forged a new instrument in which to destroy you."
themayorofsimpleton Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him from the Island of Koridai (Captain) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him
#418: Jan 21st 2022 at 9:59:03 AM

Agree with mew on the entry. I loathe Enter as well but we have to focus less on our opinions of the reviewer, and more on whether the entry counts.

Works That Require Cleanup of Complaining | Troper Wall
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#419: Jan 21st 2022 at 10:04:54 AM

The example seems to argue with itself by stating what he said and then why it's inaccurate

Well, a Broken Base or Base-Breaking Character entry should have both sides of the argument. The issue here is that Enter's argument apparently doesn't reflect that of the fanbase so it's not a real BBC situation. The fanbase, from what I'm hearing, seems to like April.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
costanton11 Since: Mar, 2016
#420: Jan 22nd 2022 at 7:49:33 AM

I meant it more in the sense that it used an argument, but then said that argument was inaccurate, so it seems irrelevant to bring it up in the first place.

Anddrix Since: Oct, 2014
#421: Jan 22nd 2022 at 8:12:12 PM

This was added to the top of CoversAlwaysLie.Comic Books:

"So we get Captain America, Superman and Batman all fighting Hitler at various points, even if only on the covers."

harryhenry It's either real or it's a dream Since: Jan, 2012
It's either real or it's a dream
#422: Jan 23rd 2022 at 9:31:54 PM

Cleaning up some of the pages in Pop-Culture Urban Legends, and I found this example in the Live-Action Film section:

While I love that he did this, I don't think it really adds to the example at all? Seems more just an excuse to gush about it.

Edited by harryhenry on Jan 24th 2022 at 6:37:17 AM

IndubitablyLeft Since: Jan, 2021 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
#423: Jan 24th 2022 at 10:07:29 AM

Found this in WALL•E:

Spiritual Adaptation: Lindsay Ellis (back when she was The Nostalgia Chick) not only cites this as one of her favorite movies ever, but also called it a far more faithful adaptation of The Lorax than the 2012 movie wound up being.

I'm tempted to straight up remove the whole bullet since calling it a "spiritual adaption" of The Lorax is seriously stretching it (and I can't even find evidence she said that), but I'd like a second opinion to avoid running afoul of removing YMMV.

chasemaddigan I'm Sad Frogerson. Since: Oct, 2011
I'm Sad Frogerson.
#424: Jan 24th 2022 at 10:15:40 AM

[up] I think that claim came from the review she did of The Lorax back when she went by The Nostalgia Chick. Not sure if that video is even still up.

Edited by chasemaddigan on Jan 24th 2022 at 1:16:04 PM

costanton11 Since: Mar, 2016
#425: Jan 27th 2022 at 1:14:18 PM

I posted this in the Is this an example? thread, but it might be worth discussing here:

From YMMV.Big Hero 6:

Is this a widespread enough reaction to count? It seems to be specific to a particular creator and I haven't seen signs that people are getting sick of it. This seems to be more an issue with how a character is portrayed.


Total posts: 1,057
Top