TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Rate the above trope.

Go To

newaccount Naked kitten from Super Hell (Experienced Trainee) Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
Naked kitten
#3476: Mar 8th 2025 at 4:49:48 PM

5/10 meh

Juvenile Hell

Free the hostages in the Troubled Teen Industry
Ego-Man25 Since: Mar, 2015 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#3477: Mar 8th 2025 at 5:17:20 PM

[up][up] 7.9/10. I like me some ambiguity, hinting that an item will be important later for reasons unclear when the protagonist first gets said item. I like being unclear earlier on, I like the mystery angle.


[up] 4.1/10. Honestly this just isn't my personal cup of tea, really. I'm sure there's Black Comedy potential up the wazoo here worth mining, but honestly, I like the challenge of finding unpredictable dark humor instead, from places one wouldn't expect to find it.
Cheery Pink

Self-professed Wild Card who thinks cynicism isn't so bad.
Mattman_the_Storyteller Since: Aug, 2018
#3478: Mar 8th 2025 at 5:22:33 PM

8/10. Pink is certainly one color I associate with cheerfulness.


Evil Hero

RWBYraikou888 The Undercover Troper from The Kingdom of Atlas Since: Aug, 2020 Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
The Undercover Troper
#3479: Mar 8th 2025 at 7:38:09 PM

6.5/10. Good idea for a trope, but not one I see put into effect all too often.


Karmic Butt-Monkey

Orcus on His Throne will always be my pet peeve.
Ego-Man25 Since: Mar, 2015 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#3480: Mar 9th 2025 at 5:25:14 AM

7.2/10. When writing a character to rank far lower on the story's ensemble pecking order, to receive Butt-Monkey misfortune, usually I don't make them deserving of it (and I know immediately that I have pissed some Tropers off HARD for saying that), because get this: I'm a sadistic writer. But, I usually balance things off with said Butt-Monkey characters having that plucky Determinator aura to them, where they stubbornly refuse to not go on their merry way, and where their response to the universe bringing such misfortune is a defiant "BRING IT ON, UNIVERSE, I CAN DO THIS ALL DAY!!!"

But, that being said, I obviously recognize the value of this subtrope. Some of the villains I write, I avoid Affably Evil with a vengeance, making them just outright douchebags, so them being designated this trope means that unlike with the far more sympathetic normal Butt-Monkey characters, it's all vitriolic against them... some of the best energy I know... though, usually if a villain is being a gigantic asshole as well, I take more pleasure in completely dismantling everything they have built up. I'm more that kind of writer.


Good Is Not Soft

Self-professed Wild Card who thinks cynicism isn't so bad.
Weirdguy149 Former King from Lumiose City Since: Jul, 2014 Relationship Status: I'd jump in front of a train for ya!
Former King
#3481: Mar 9th 2025 at 8:48:14 AM

8/10, a really great trope when used on otherwise squeaky clean heroes but done to death with anti-heroes to the point that I'd like to see one that actually is soft.

Away in a Manger

The legend has returned.
Mattman_the_Storyteller Since: Aug, 2018
#3483: Mar 9th 2025 at 9:56:13 AM

7/10. A good way to show that a loving hero has limits if the hated one is just that evil.


I Just Want to Be Normal

RWBYraikou888 The Undercover Troper from The Kingdom of Atlas Since: Aug, 2020 Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
The Undercover Troper
#3484: Mar 9th 2025 at 6:33:30 PM

8/10. A trope that I can personally relate to.


Level in the Clouds

Orcus on His Throne will always be my pet peeve.
Ego-Man25 Since: Mar, 2015 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#3485: Mar 9th 2025 at 6:44:10 PM

8.4/10. Ahhh, been a while since I tackled a video game level trope. I have taken a liking to the puffy cloud levels of the world... springing our protagonists very freakishly high in the stratosphere, fluffy clouds to walk upon, a whole bunch of blinding white and blue to be seen... by all accounts this should be a lazy, predictable level biome, but somehow I keep coming across video games that do something interesting with it... dunno why. But, hell, I ain't complaining.


And Your Reward Is Clothes

Self-professed Wild Card who thinks cynicism isn't so bad.
TheScratcher7 it's normal :/ from my personal limbo (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: Serial head-patter
it's normal :/
#3486: Mar 10th 2025 at 4:45:34 AM

7/10, if the clothes give you upgrades or power ups then they're cool, otherwise just meh


Going Critical

Ok im back ... | Check my strawpage :3
newaccount Naked kitten from Super Hell (Experienced Trainee) Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
Naked kitten
#3487: Mar 10th 2025 at 9:44:56 AM

12/10 Just awesome.

Teleport Spam

Free the hostages in the Troubled Teen Industry
Bluethorn They're back! from Partash Since: Jan, 2018 Relationship Status: Star-crossed
They're back!
#3488: Mar 10th 2025 at 10:32:31 AM

9/10. Looks really cool, although when video game bosses abuse it too much, it can be kind of annoying.


Four Eyes, Zero Soul as a person who wears glasses, I have mixed feelings on this

Currently playing Yooka-Replaylee
ginsengaddict Lt (jg) T'lyn (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Lt (jg) T'lyn
#3489: Mar 10th 2025 at 1:49:51 PM

2/10

The unfortunate implication that a vision impairment means "evil" rubs me wrong. And I don't even wear glasses.


Handicapped Badass

I suppose, by the transitive property, I too must be "Vulcan as a Motherfucker."[1]
Ego-Man25 Since: Mar, 2015 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#3490: Mar 10th 2025 at 8:26:11 PM

[up][up] Just An Aside: I rank this far lower if the villain is actually visually impaired, as again, the Unfortunate Implications are kinda unsavory (like… 3.8/10 territory)… but like, if there is a scene where the villain can see just fine without the glasses, but they apply the glasses for style points? 8.7/10 territory… specifically when the glasses have that Scary Shiny Glasses flash. THAT'S unmistakably badass as all hell.


[up] 9.4/10. For a trope that's so easy to fuck up and do wrong if you don't know what you're doing… the cases where the writers do know what they're doing, have always held a special place in my heart. I'm able-bodied on my end, so I can't exactly speak on the relatability front, but I come more from a place of admiration at the kinds of folks to lose their limb, or limbs, maybe lose their vision, what have you… and yet they don't let that stop them from picking themselves right back up performing the kinds of feats that even most able-bodied ladies and gentlemen can only dream of doing. And, obviously, the one trope I know that synergizes with Handicapped Badass better than any other in existence… is The Determinator. Honestly, a trope synergy marriage made in Valhalla.
When All You Have Is a Hammer…

Self-professed Wild Card who thinks cynicism isn't so bad.
Weirdguy149 Former King from Lumiose City Since: Jul, 2014 Relationship Status: I'd jump in front of a train for ya!
Former King
#3491: Mar 11th 2025 at 8:35:03 AM

9/10, it's always interesting to see what creativity someone has when they're locked into using one specific thing.

All Amazons Want Hercules

The legend has returned.
alateli " oh , uh .. 'blanket'." from Living Room (Apprentice) Relationship Status: Brewing the love potion
" oh , uh .. 'blanket'."
#3492: Mar 11th 2025 at 8:40:16 AM

5/10. Eh, it's definitely just me with this one. I just really like strong woman x pathetic man tbh.


The Fake Cutie

Well if it isn't my favorite human ..!
DeadlyEspresso Mister Pendleton from your local Popeyes Since: Apr, 2023
Mister Pendleton
#3493: Mar 11th 2025 at 10:53:53 AM

8/10. I like the idea of characters that pretend to be cute and endearing... only to turn out to not be that underneath.


Mirror Match

I literally cannot make out with a television the fuck
Wafer THE HAMLET GLUTTON from the Banjo-Tooie world, meditating (Life not ruined yet) Relationship Status: Non-Canon
THE HAMLET GLUTTON
#3494: Mar 11th 2025 at 4:38:00 PM

8/10 Always a fun boss battle gimmick

Non-Standard Character Design

"She is a girl" - THE HAMLET GLUTTON
Ego-Man25 Since: Mar, 2015 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#3495: Mar 11th 2025 at 5:20:12 PM

This One Is Subjective: Like, okay, so... there are clear cut cases where there is one nigh-universal artstyle for a certain series, from a certain artist... and then this brand new design springs up, completely jarring with the rest of the characters, that is this trope in stark relief, as pure as the trope gets, and some executions are a 9.7/10 for the cases done REALLY well, and... eh, 4.9/10 for the cases where they fall flat... which is to say, of course, that it's a misfire, but not a dud that RUINS the entire experience, let's not get too hasty.

...But what I ask you all is this: Is it possible for this trope to occur, if the series in question WILDLY varies its artstyles in the first place? Like, maybe the answer is yes if the design is still different from all of the other crazy artstyles, even for SAID other artstyles' standards? It becomes a hazy, hazy mesh to keep track of, and honestly... it's a trope worth pontificating over.


Status Quo Is God

Self-professed Wild Card who thinks cynicism isn't so bad.
DeadlyEspresso Mister Pendleton from your local Popeyes Since: Apr, 2023
Mister Pendleton
#3496: Mar 11th 2025 at 5:25:33 PM

6/10. While consistency is great, it can risk causing a show to go stale after a while.


Mistaken Identity

I literally cannot make out with a television the fuck
petersohn from Earth, Solar System (Long Runner) Relationship Status: Hiding
ginsengaddict Lt (jg) T'lyn (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Lt (jg) T'lyn
#3498: Mar 13th 2025 at 12:02:04 AM

8/10

Mostly because the Baron Harkonnen is an example and I am very biased. Speaking of which:


Adipose Rex

I suppose, by the transitive property, I too must be "Vulcan as a Motherfucker."[1]
RWBYraikou888 The Undercover Troper from The Kingdom of Atlas Since: Aug, 2020 Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
The Undercover Troper
#3499: Mar 13th 2025 at 7:40:24 PM

6/10. Done to death, but it's possible to make it enjoyable.


Genial Giraffe

Orcus on His Throne will always be my pet peeve.

Total posts: 4,401
Top