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Misused: Shes Got Legs

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To-do list:

  • Remove on-page examples of Leg Focus that lack focus from another character and/or the camera.
  • Remove wicks for Shes Got Legs and Hes Got Legs that lack focus from another character and/or the camera, and move ones that do fit at least one of those criteria to Leg Focus.

    Original post 
Note: This thread was proposed by Arctimon, who gave others permission to make the thread.

Shes Got Legs is suppose to be about times where a character's legs (both female and male, although male examples are rare) are given special attention, either by the camera or by characters in-universe. It is not suppose to be someone just having nice, long, or shapely (ugh) legs. A lot of examples on the Related page are Characters page specific (1980 of the 3824 as of this write-up) and are prone to zero-context examples. This Wick Check is to see how extensive the problem is.

There's also the question of fetishy, over-the-top, and creepy writing, but that can probably be handled as a separate issue.

Shes Got Legs Wick Check (62/62)

     Correct Usage (18/62; 30%) 

Pothole.
  • Furry Fight Chronicles A 1 P 1 C 1 Fenny VS Roora: Fenny and Roora have outfits that show their long, shapely, and muscular legs in all their glory. They also use them to pull off a couple of advanced moves on each other, to show that they're as good fighting with them as with their arms. Example.
  • Series.Pretty Little Liars: All the Liars, plus Alison and many other female characters. Invoked in-universe when Ella, discussing a potential outfit for her second wedding to Byron, comments "I may need to borrow Emily's legs." Example.
  • Series.Tempted: Innocent Fanservice Girl: Tae-hee. Case in point: She goes swimming in a tiny black bathing suit that shows off her shapely legs, but quickly gets shy about how revealing her outfit is when her Love Interest teases her about how much skin he's able to see. Pothole.
  • VideoGame.Ring Fit Adventure: Befitting the Four Masters' leg expert, Allegra's well-toned legs are thicker than her torso and longer than the entire rest of her body. Her boss fight begins with a prolonged shot of her legs and rear before panning out to show the rest of her. Example.
  • YMMV.Eek The Cat: Evil Is Sexy: The evil Cat Sisters from the musical episode "Quadrapedia" were deliberately drawn in a decidedly more anthropomorphized manner than either Eek or Anabelle. Also, one of them is wearing a long evening dress highlighting her legs, while the other is Dressed Like a Dominatrix. Correct example.

     Just Legs (17/62; 27%) 
  • Main.Sexy Whatever Outfit: In Rio -Rainbow Gate!- , Rio is a croupier and thus wears a croupier outfit... But a sexy one, combining bare midriff, bare legs, cleavage, miniskirt, and heels. Pothole. Just talks about bare legs.
  • Rolling Girls: Ai is by far the tallest of the bunch and consequently has the longest legs, which get emphasized by her wearing short shorts and torn tights. No attention given in-universe. Not an example.
  • Project A-Ko: Fanservice: C-ko's princess outfits are both more revealing than her usual attire. Her pink dress in the first movie is designed so it is split down the middle from the waist down, revealing her legs. It also shows off some of her back. The other outfit is seen in Final—it is initially covered by a cape, but later revealed to be a tight, high-cut leotard that exposes her legs and shows some hip. Pothole. Doesn't show what attention is given.
  • Characters.A Certain Magical Index True GREMLIN (Niang-Niang): She wears a short Qipao that exposes her legs up to her hip. Not an example. No attention is described.
  • Characters.Black Clover Black Bulls (Vanessa Enoteca): Vanessa wears stockings underneath her thigh-high, skin-tight boots that show off her long legs. Not an example. No attention given.
  • Characters.Blaz Blue Jin Kisaragi: Mr. Fanservice: The BIGGEST male character of this material in the whole series. Period. Very handsome and very sexy (what with those tights and legs). Pothole, plus creepy writing.
  • Characters.Epic Seven Star Genealogy (Yuna): She wears a very short skirt, leaving her thighs and legs exposed. Not an example. No attention is given.
  • Characters.Naruto Other Leaf Village Members (Shizune): Her dress can part to reveal one of her legs. This is usually never really emphasized — except for the one time that she hikes her leg up to pull out one of her medical vials from a leg holster, which is pretty much nothing more than an excuse to show her leg in full detail for a brief moment of quiet Fanservice. Not an example. Scene in question doesn't highlight the leg.
  • Characters.Sakura Wars New Imperial Combat Revue Flower Division (Clarissa Snowflake): Her normal outfit has them on display, courtesy of her short skirt. Not an example. No attention is given.
  • Characters.Star Wars Ahsoka Tano: She tends to wear outfits that highlight her very nice legs. Not an example. No attention is given.
  • Characters.News Radio (Catherine Duke): Ms. Fanservice: Not to the same extent as Beth, but she did wear some ridiculously low-cut tops and typically showed a lot of leg. Pothole.
  • Characters.Super Smash Bros Bayonetta: One of her claims to fame is her absurdly long, slender legs. When using her Wicked Weaves, these are shown off for everyone to see. Not an example. Who is "everyone" in this case?.
  • Characters.Toy Story Other Toys: The aptly-named Legs. That is all she's got, though they are very feminine and shapely. Not an example. Are they shown off in the movie?
  • Characters.Valkyria Chronicles (Brigadier General Selvaria Bles): Ms. Fanservice: Beyond her large bust, she has a very pronounced body and legs. Up to eleven in the anime, where she gets to wear many more outfits, such as fancy dresses and swimwear and even gets a Shower Scene with Godiva Hair and Sideboob. Bare-bones pothole.
  • ComicBook.Josie And The Pussy Cats: All versions of the classic Pussycats' outfits show of some leg, emphasized by heels. And we're all grateful for it. Not an example. No attention is given.
  • WesternAnimation.Winx Club: Almost the entire female cast is drawn with supermodel long legs. Not an example. No attention is given.
  • Main.Threesome Subtext: Katawa Shoujo: Hanako and Lilly's routes have the most, as the two are extremely close Heterosexual Life-Partners and both of their routes feature the other to a great extent. Befriending the other is required to get either of them, and their routes in Act 1 don't diverge until the very end. It's repeatedly made obvious how much closer than normal friends they are, with Hanako saying that she loves Lilly in her route. To cap it all off, at one point in Lilly's route during one of their pyjama party/tea party get-togethers, Akira mentions that plenty of guys would be very pleased to see Lilly in such skimpy clothing, and goes on to add that he even gets to see cute Hanako in her nightie as well. Hisao deflects, but Hanako haltingly says that if it's Hisao, she doesn't mind. She doesn't seem to realise what she's implying, but everyone else sure does, and quickly change the subject.Pothole. "Skimpy clothing" is too generic. What attention is given?

     ZCE (20/62; 32%) 

     Not An Example (4/62; 6%) 

     Unsure (3/62; 5%) 
  • Characters.Arknights Guards N To Z (Swire): Her beachwear during her vacation in Dossoles is very flattering to her figure and draws attention to her thighs. Maybe example, but does it draw attention?
  • Music.Fx: All have pretty legs and mostly aren't afraid to show them off. Even Amber doesn't mind showing them off now and then. Example, but should it apply to real people?
  • Music.Tears For Fears: Even the Guys Want Him: Curt Smith was beautiful enough to turn the heads of at least two men he has worked with.
    • TFF collaborator Michael Wainwright admitted in a tweet that Smith was hot, hot enough that Wainwright initially believed that he must have been staring at a photo of a hot woman. He obviously wasn't aware that Smith was a Rare Male Example of Shes Got Legs who sometimes wore short shorts. Sort-of pothole. Should it apply to real people?

So from the check, 65% of the examples were either zero-context, not an example, or was merely pointing out that someone has legs with no further context. This also doesn't cover any of the examples on the actual Shes Got Legs page (which I can see has some misuse there).

It seems as if people are using this merely as an appearance trope, not realizing that there has to be actual attention paid to them either by the camera or other characters. A clean-up is definitely needed, but a rename wouldn't be out of the question. There's also the possible step of making Shes Got Legs NRLEP, as a few of the wicks I pulled were about real life people, and none of them seemed valid.

...Oh, if we can also ban the word "shapely", that'd be great.

Edited by MacronNotes on Oct 31st 2022 at 3:29:34 PM

Tabs Since: Jan, 2001
#26: Sep 29th 2022 at 12:54:46 PM

[up] Hi, welcome to TRS. If you scroll down a little and click Show/Hide Options, it'll show that your options are pretty neatly covered by the options on the crowner. (Other than cutting. That's not really viable because this page gets a lot of traffic)

ShayanthanYuhanthan345 Since: Sep, 2022 Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
#27: Sep 29th 2022 at 2:21:53 PM

Ok, that's fair enough. I am leaning towards Super-Trope, but I do believe In-Universe may also be a preferable option. Just wanted to get that out.

Malady (Not-So-Newbie)
#28: Sep 29th 2022 at 4:23:25 PM

So, the Super-Trope option makes this into the "Sexy Legs" trope, right? Or is it the "Legs" trope? Because "other leg-related tropes" sounds that broad, while the tropes mentioned in the referenced post are all about legs being sexy?

Edited by Malady on Sep 29th 2022 at 4:25:28 AM

Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576
Yindee Just stoic wisdom. from New England Since: Jul, 2016
Tabs Since: Jan, 2001
#30: Sep 29th 2022 at 5:53:59 PM

I think Footsie Under the Table is kind of... off for the supertrope, but yeah, the option would retool Shes Got Legs from "look at these sexy-looking long legs" to "sexy-looking legs".

Another trope for the supertrope, if the option wins the crowner, is Foot Popping (note fourth paragraph).

PCD Double the trouble... from She/her, Aro Since: May, 2021 Relationship Status: Mu
Double the trouble...
#31: Sep 29th 2022 at 10:02:47 PM

Noting that I voted yes for renaming and making a supertrope and no for sending to Out on a Linb. I've read all examples and find them a bit repetitive as far as expressions and vocabulary go, but given the age of some of the media, it's perhaps unavoidable.

It might be possible to find more male examples of this trope, though the ones I can think of are of straight actors playing in drag, which could be problematic. Historical fiction could also provide some examples of men in breeches and knee stockings "making a leg" (i.e., bowing).

"You want weapons?! We're in a Library! BOOKS! The best weapons in the universe!" — The Doctor
Yindee Just stoic wisdom. from New England Since: Jul, 2016
Just stoic wisdom.
#32: Sep 29th 2022 at 10:43:13 PM

As much as I'm "omg it me??" regarding my first TLP launch being a mentioned option, I don't think the redirect is the best solution. But I'm still happy/surprised the index got a shout-out!

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GastonRabbit MOD Cake's just a shot away. (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Cake's just a shot away. (he/him)
#33: Oct 1st 2022 at 11:47:52 PM

Calling in favor of renaming and cleaning up misuse.

What are our options?

You can't always get what you want.
Hello83433 (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
#34: Oct 2nd 2022 at 12:37:45 AM

I saw Sexy Leg Shot being tossed around. For some more options, maybe Attention Grabbing Legs (or some variant of), Leg Focus, Legservice. IDK, just spitballing here. Tried thinking of a name with the word "Asset" in it, but coming up bupkis.

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Orbiting Since: Nov, 2014 Relationship Status: Giving love a bad name
GastonRabbit MOD Cake's just a shot away. (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Cake's just a shot away. (he/him)
#36: Oct 2nd 2022 at 12:50:56 AM

I think we can hook a crowner now. Feel free to add more options if I missed anything.

You can't always get what you want.
Malady (Not-So-Newbie)
#37: Oct 2nd 2022 at 5:54:37 AM

Sexy Leg Shot if this is a visual trope.

But something else if it's broader. Leg Focus, as a Foot Focus snowclone and to establish Focus as the word for broadest attention on a item no matter visual or textual?

Edit: Foot Focus is a Redirect to an index. Oh.

Edited by Malady on Oct 2nd 2022 at 5:55:18 AM

Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576
RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#38: Oct 2nd 2022 at 11:39:39 AM

I feel "Sexy Leg Shot" is the best option, though I feel "Leg Focus" works too.

BlackMage43 Since: Jun, 2014 Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
#39: Oct 2nd 2022 at 12:08:00 PM

If we're just keeping the trope as it is, then the name "Sexy Leg Shot" doesn't take into account the "given attention by characters in-universe" part of the trope. It makes it sound like it's exclusively about camera shots on legs.

GastonRabbit MOD Cake's just a shot away. (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Cake's just a shot away. (he/him)
#40: Oct 2nd 2022 at 5:07:23 PM

[up]With that in mind (along with other posts regarding the matter), Sexy Leg Shot and Leg Shot have been removed from the crowner. I suppose this could be considered eliminating them via mod fiat (which I generally prefer to avoid), but since the alternative would probably be running a new name crowner using names that don't make the trope sound narrower than it actually is (similarly to what happened when Conspicuous CG and Darkness-Induced Audience Apathy were renamed), I figured I'd save us the time of having to run another crowner.

Edited by GastonRabbit on Oct 2nd 2022 at 7:11:40 AM

You can't always get what you want.
Amonimus the Retromancer from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the Retromancer
#41: Oct 2nd 2022 at 5:11:39 PM

Other names kinda don't take that into account either if that's an argument.

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
GastonRabbit Cake's just a shot away. (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Cake's just a shot away. (he/him)
#42: Oct 2nd 2022 at 5:12:50 PM

[up]What's wrong with Leg Focus, which is now the top option? I don't see how it couldn't include both focus from characters in-universe and focus from the camera, since the word "focus" isn't exclusive to camera focus.

That, and Leg Fanservice is an even more general-sounding name.

Edited by GastonRabbit on Oct 2nd 2022 at 7:17:44 AM

You can't always get what you want.
GastonRabbit MOD Cake's just a shot away. (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Cake's just a shot away. (he/him)
#43: Oct 2nd 2022 at 5:23:19 PM

How about we run the crowner run a couple of extra days to account for the changes. I'll bump the bulletin after today (the timestamp says it was hooked at 12 AM today, which is probably 2 AM for my time zone).

You can't always get what you want.
Amonimus the Retromancer from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the Retromancer
#44: Oct 2nd 2022 at 5:24:56 PM

"focus from characters" is to me sounds a bit mouthful so it was hard to me to imagine. Though on consideration, Focusing On Legs makes sense how it would work with that in mind.

"X Fanservice" to me sounds like a visual/personality trope and not something that can involve more than one character.

These are personal opinions and not something I'm willing to cause more delay over. e: Kinda [nja] on last part.

Edited by Amonimus on Oct 2nd 2022 at 3:26:22 PM

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
GastonRabbit Cake's just a shot away. (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Cake's just a shot away. (he/him)
VampireBuddha Calendar enthusiast from Ireland (Wise, aged troper) Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
Calendar enthusiast
#46: Oct 2nd 2022 at 11:08:28 PM

If we're not disambiguating, Leg Focus is the only new name that really works.

It is tricky, because "She's got legs!" is a pretty common phrase used to describe a woman with nice legs. I personally like that name the best, but alas its age means it's been super-misused.

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GastonRabbit Cake's just a shot away. (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Cake's just a shot away. (he/him)
#47: Oct 3rd 2022 at 1:22:12 AM

[up]We can turn the old name into a disambiguation page.

What pages would there be to add other than the new name and Music.Eliminator ZZ Top Album?

You can't always get what you want.
RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#49: Oct 3rd 2022 at 7:40:05 PM

[up]This can apply to male characters too, if that's what you're getting at.

ShayanthanYuhanthan345 Since: Sep, 2022 Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
#50: Oct 4th 2022 at 1:17:30 PM

[up] There are hardly any male examples (if there is any), plus isn't this exclusively female? I don't really think we should put the name in a disambig page. If anything, it'll probably just cause a bigger problem than fix it. I think the name is perfectly fine. It's the examples that are the issue.

As you all said, we should all probably just make it into a Super-Trope, or perhaps list examples as In-Universe only.

Trope Repair Shop: She's Got Legs
2nd Oct '22 12:49:25 AM

Crown Description:

Consensus was to rename Shes Got Legs and clean up misuse. What should its new name be?

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