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Is this title misleading?: Parent Trap Plot

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zanbolt Since: Dec, 1969
#1: Sep 28th 2010 at 3:06:01 PM

Parent Trap Plot

When I read that article title, the first thing that springs to mind is Twin Switch. Is it just me?

Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#2: Sep 28th 2010 at 3:28:40 PM

While the title is not misused, I tend to agree that this could use a rename. It is a very common trope (kids team up to force conflicting adults to get along) and has only a dozen or so non index wicks and less than 10 examples. Clearly the name is hindering the trope and a rename is in order.

Also the title is misleading, the parents in The Parent Trap are divorced, not feuding families.

edited 28th Sep '10 3:30:02 PM by Ghilz

Yamikuronue So Yeah Since: Aug, 2009
#3: Sep 28th 2010 at 3:34:17 PM

This came up before, I remember arguing in favor of a rename because the trope called Parent Trap Plot should describe the plot of the Parent Trap, which it does not currently.

BTW, I'm a chick.
Deboss I see the Awesomeness. from Awesomeville Texas Since: Aug, 2009
I see the Awesomeness.
#4: Sep 28th 2010 at 7:05:35 PM

Agree, redefine Parent Trap Plot to be what it sounds like.

Fight smart, not fair.
HappyMaskMan Rock Solid! Since: Aug, 2009
Rock Solid!
#5: Sep 28th 2010 at 7:27:59 PM

Does it have to be about kids teaming up, or is it just about kids trying to get their separated parents back together in general?

Sackett Since: Jan, 2001
#6: Sep 28th 2010 at 9:24:33 PM

It seems to be about kids getting their parents back together but it counts "fights" as a split-up, not just divorce or separation.

Yamikuronue So Yeah Since: Aug, 2009
#7: Sep 28th 2010 at 11:50:57 PM

Yeah, the current description is actually more Romeo And Juliet Plot - two households, both alike in dignity, from ancient grudge break to new mutiny, yadda yadda, kids bring them together. Now with less dying and romance!

The parent trap is about "My dad and your mom should be together. Oh hey, we're actually twins! Even better!"

edited 28th Sep '10 11:52:21 PM by Yamikuronue

BTW, I'm a chick.
Sackett Since: Jan, 2001
#8: Sep 29th 2010 at 7:20:12 AM

Ah no.

The Parent Trap was about a mother and father that are divorced and the kids get them back together.

carla Since: Jan, 2010
#9: Sep 29th 2010 at 7:35:39 AM

personally, when i think of the parent trap the first thing that comes to mind is twins. a Luke I Am Your Twin-type plot where the twins switch places... which is already some other trope, right? i don't really get the "getting the parents back together" part right away— that doesn't even come in until much later in the movie.

going with that, i think the title is misleading. i would've never guessed that the trope was about two feuding families instead of just one. either way i think it needs a rename— and make a separate trope for a "get the parents back together" plot.

Yamikuronue So Yeah Since: Aug, 2009
#10: Sep 29th 2010 at 11:13:13 AM

The only part I left out was the bit about being previously divorced, which was intentional, because I've seen at least one variant where they were never married and I'd still consider it a Parent Trap Plot, slightly modified.

In any event it's certainly not this trope.

edited 29th Sep '10 11:13:43 AM by Yamikuronue

BTW, I'm a chick.
Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#11: Sep 29th 2010 at 11:37:04 AM

Though I still think there is a room for the current trope too, what Yami referred to as Romeo And Juliet light.

KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#12: Sep 29th 2010 at 1:15:00 PM

I think this trope needs exposure. I've never heard of it before today (though I knew what it was the moment I saw the name).

Yamikuronue So Yeah Since: Aug, 2009
#13: Sep 29th 2010 at 1:26:59 PM

^Did you? Read the description close.

BTW, I'm a chick.
DragonQuestZ The Other Troper from Somewhere in California Since: Jan, 2001
The Other Troper
#14: Sep 29th 2010 at 1:49:08 PM

Two Feuding Houses would be a good rename.

I'm on the internet. My arguments are invalid.
KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#15: Sep 29th 2010 at 4:09:06 PM

^^ Yeah. That's pretty much exactly what I thought. I didn't even remember that the kids from the Parent Trap were twins.

All I remember clearly was that they had a plan to trick their parents into getting together - which in part I remember most because a lot of movies I saw while growing up tried to copy it. Hence, the trope.

edited 29th Sep '10 4:09:26 PM by KnownUnknown

Yamikuronue So Yeah Since: Aug, 2009
#16: Oct 1st 2010 at 3:09:56 AM

Except as it stands the trope is about two parents of totally unrelated kids deciding they hate each other and the kids can't play anymore, and the kids having to solve the family feud. Which is Romeo and Juliet, not Parent Trap. At the end everyone's friends again - nobody's marrying anyone.

BTW, I'm a chick.
KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#17: Oct 5th 2010 at 12:28:35 PM

Same basic idea: "Kids trick parents who don't like each other into liking each other." Marriage isn't necessary to it.

edited 5th Oct '10 12:29:11 PM by KnownUnknown

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#18: Oct 5th 2010 at 12:37:21 PM

Blegh. "[Show] Plot" titles are always inherently confusing and betray a serious lack of creativity. Why would anyone argue to keep it?

Lets Get Mommy And Daddy Together Again would cover this perfectly - at least it would cover the actual plot of The Parent Trap, anyway.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Deboss I see the Awesomeness. from Awesomeville Texas Since: Aug, 2009
PaleHorse87 Since: Sep, 2012
#21: Oct 28th 2010 at 8:37:52 PM

So I found this YKTTW discussion about this: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/discussion.php?id=9dpzbdtwhmdepb2t52c5tdpt proposed trope. When I read the title of this trope, I figured somebody had found out that we already had the YKTTW as a trope. Much to my surprise, we do not already have that trope, instead we have this trope, which does not really resemble the plot of the parent trap using the parent trap as it's name. Romeo and Juliet Plot definitely makes better sense, as that is closer to what this trope page actually describes.

ExpiryBot Since: Dec, 1969
#22: Jan 12th 2011 at 11:04:06 AM

This thread expired after 60 days of inactivity.

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