To-do list:
- Move wicks for formula-breaking episodes to Formula-Breaking Episode. If there are any wicks that don't fit any of the tropes on the Something Completely Different index, remove them.here
The results of the wick check are as follows:
- Correct: 17/50, or 34%
- Subtrope: 6/50, or 12%
- Franchise-based: 4/50, or 8%
- Other misuse: 21/50, or 42%
- ZCE: 2/50, or 4%
I separated "Franchise based" from other examples because I wasn't sure if those sort of examples qualified or not. As for the subtropes, most of that usage was A Day in the Limelight. The misuse folder is the biggest one, and as I said, the usage ranges from "something weird happened in this scene" to "this is a weird turn of events for the characters" to "what a weird character". Another type of misuse I saw was for examples that outright admitted the shift wasn't a rare or unexpected occurrance.
Now, before I start coming up with solutions, I want to take a look at the subtrope list itself. Most of it's okay, but then you have things like Big-Lipped Alligator Moment, Playing Against Type, and Oddball in the Series that seem either completely out of place, or just a bit weird. BLAM especially, since it's a YMMV trope about a single moment within a work, which I'm pretty sure is misuse of the concept.
With that out of the way, how can this trope be fixed? Well... I feel like the title is at least partially responsible. As much as I love Monty Python, it's simply not a clear enough name for the definition, and the broadness of it leads to a lot of decay. Something as simple as slapping "Episode" at the end might work wonders, turning it into Something Completely Different Episode. A drier but likely more clear idea is Unusual Situation Episode. I also want to clarify whether or not this is something that can happen on a more meta scale, and to remove the misused subtropes from the list. My other idea is to do the opposite and expand this to cover any weird, out-of-place thing in a story. I'm not as sold on that idea, but it'd be less work.
Edited by GastonRabbit on May 16th 2022 at 5:38:24 AM
Bonnie's Artistic Cousin
Yeah, there might be a trope for that, but I don't think it qualifies as a Formula-Breaking Episode just because there needs to be an established formula to break first, and if it starts creating a new formula it's something else entirely.
Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Help this IP thread out: Does the current pic on SomethingCompletelyDifferent.Comic Books fit Formula-Breaking Episode, ie. is a new protagonist enough to break the 'formula'?
(she/her)
I would say it is. If the formula is that a certain character is always the protagonist and then suddenly for one episode they aren’t and someone else unexpected is, then that’s enough to break the formula in my opinion.
Macron's notes
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
I posted notices on both discussion pages. (I probably only needed to do it for Something Completely Different's discussion page, but there's no harm in putting it on both.)
Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
Now a lurker. Thanks for everything. | he/him
Bumping this since it was at the bottom. I assume wick cleaning is ongoing?
TRS Queue | Works That Require Cleanup of Complaining | Troper Wall
Bonnie's Artistic Cousin
IDK if we've done anything yet. I've been exclusively doing Actually Pretty Funny and Adult Fear (but only when the wicks are on the same page, as my focus is APF).
Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
(she/her)
I don't think anyone is cleaning this one. If they were , I'd assume that they would update the thread on their progress by now (that's not always the case but still).
I am busy with I Ate WHAT?! and Those Two Bad Guys so I can't help with this one.
Edited by MacronNotes on Mar 22nd 2022 at 9:13:53 AM
Macron's notes
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
I haven't done any dewicking for this aside from changing the indexing, and a lot of it has to do with the high amount of wicks to change. Plus, I currently have Contemptible Cover and maybe also Dangerously Short Skirt in my crosshairs as far as dewicking projects go, the latter because it's a heavily misused appearance trope whose wicks will probably mostly have to be deleted instead of transplanted, though dewicking is currently on hold for me because I'm still sick and the illness is causing muscle pain in my limbs.
Edited by GastonRabbit on Mar 22nd 2022 at 8:07:54 AM
Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
Bonnie's Artistic Cousin
That said, after I finish Actually Pretty Funny I'll tackle this. I lost motivation after finishing Recap/, but there's not actually much left. Should only take a week or so, hopefully.
Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
Well, it's good to know that the dewicking projects for this and Actually Pretty Funny have some interest, since it seems like the dewicking projects for more recently created threads have been prioritized lately. (Of course, I could be mistaken on the part about more recently created threads, especially because I have a headache and that could be messing with my train of thought.)
Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
Bonnie's Artistic Cousin
Onto this one now. Starting on Main, got down to the S's. Realized it has the And Now For Something Completely Different Redirect with about 800 wicks if anyone wants to tackle that.
Edited by WarJay77 on Apr 5th 2022 at 3:58:23 PM
Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Bonnie's Artistic Cousin
2873, down to the C's. A distressing number of these examples are just "the work did a weird thing" potholes.
Edited by WarJay77 on Apr 5th 2022 at 6:00:01 AM
Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Bonnie's Artistic Cousin
2642, down to the D's.
Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Bonnie's Artistic Cousin
What do with this one from Fridge.Echo Chamber?
- In Noir Episode, Mr. Administrator says he wants "something completely different." Tom asks if he meant the actual trope. Since this episode is so far from the show's usual formula, they actually did do Something Completely Different.
(she/her)
Maybe something like this will work? I don't know how we can reword it without acknowledging the change.
- In Noir Episode, Mr. Administrator says he wants "something completely different." Tom asks if he meant the actual trope (now named Formula-Breaking Episode). Since this episode is so far from the show's usual formula, they actually did do a Formula-Breaking Episode.
Bonnie's Artistic Cousin
Sounds good enough, I'll swap it.
Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Bonnie's Artistic Cousin
2090
Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Bonnie's Artistic Cousin
1989
Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Bonnie's Artistic Cousin
1792
Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Bonnie's Artistic Cousin
1567 (1566 once a ghost-wick gets cut)
Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Bonnie's Artistic Cousin
1392
Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Bonnie's Artistic Cousin
1275
Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Bonnie's Artistic Cousin
1139
Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Bonnie's Artistic Cousin
986
Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
Crown Description:
A previous decision decided to rename Something Completely Different. What is the new name to be?
I'm a bit confused, but inclined to say that there isn't a concrete formula, then it doesn't qualify.