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openReincarnate into Descendant
A part of Reincarnation where you are reborn into your own descendant (or, sometimes, your relative's descendant).
Do we have something like that? (Just in case)
openChild Parenting Film
A minor child is secretly taking care of her somehow disabled parent, by him/herself. Maybe the adult is The Alcoholic, or some other drug abuser, or maybe just otherwise not altogether there enough to be the responsible one. But someone's got to make sure the rent is paid, the clothes are washed, people get fed, etc, etc. Otherwise, the dreaded Social Services might have to get involved.
Almost always the other parent is a Disappeared Dad or Missing Mom, because then the other parent would be doing the hard stuff the child is forced to.
It's similar to Promotion to Parent, but in this case, the child is taking care of the adult parent, not his siblings. (But if the kid has younger siblings, better believe Promotion to Parent is also in effect.)
Also, the child in question MUST be no older than 18. An adult taking care of an elderly parent wouldn't fall under this - this is for when a kid is forced to be the responsible one in the relationship.
It's NOT Children Raise You - that's when a comic protagonist is forced to take care of kids, and ends up getting character development in the bargain.
Edited by bjexopenJustified protagonist and viewer ignorance
Base-level exposition (usually at the beginning of a Trapped in Another World plot) is delivered to the viewer at the same time as the hero, and there's a good in-game reason for this.
For example, in Final Fantasy X Tidus has been dragged from his home city of Zanarkand to Spira, and so is completely ignorant of the Kaiju that regularly devastates villages and towns and has been doing so for thousands of years. Fortunately, it's known to the natives that Sin emits toxins that cause amnesia in its victims (although forgetting about Sin itself is viewed as a very severe case).
openReverse Perverted Interpretation
A well-known story (perhaps a folktale) is retold, but instead of having a happy ending, the plot is reversed and ends in tragedy. It exists both where the retelling is labeled as a version of the original story, and where symbolism exists to allude to the original story. Often times is done to deliver an asoep, either through the actions that deliver the new recounting its sad ending, or to criticize the message or implications of the original recounting.
openBile Fascination meets Angst Aversion
A YMMV trope. When there's something so bad about a work - whether it be Nightmare Fuel or heaps upon heaps of Squick - that people just point-blank refuse to indulge in it. Best examples I can think of are memetically repulsive things like The Human Centipede and the Saw films, but for a milder version, books like the A Song of Ice and Fire series that include incest, rape, etc.
openGameplay isn't literal Videogame
When the gameplay of a game isn't intended as a completely literal representation of in-universe events. Almost every videogame works like this to some extent or another since you can't exactly program the entirety of real life into a game. I was wondering if we have a page for something like this yet. Not the same as gameplay/story segregation because it's not about the gameplay being consistent with the story or not, it's just that the gameplay is a slightly indirect representation of the story.
Edited by homestaropenBadass girl is crying
Can an Action Girl have Manly Tears, or is the trope limited to men?
openThe Batter Videogame
When the protagonist/player-character turns out to be evil and the player didn't know. Named after the player-character from the game OFF in which this happens. And it can't just be the character switching sides; they were always evil in the game's plot.
openWork starts off as derivative, then diverges into original? Videogame
I noticed this entry on Dota 2 (important part highlighted in bold):
- Continuity Reboot: The original Dot A never had much of a story past minor hero and items descriptions, and for the most of it used lore already established in Warcraft as a base. With the remake being developed by Valve, they couldn't obviously use anything relating to Blizzard products.' This gave them the chance to completely clean the slate and create their own fantasy world, giving all the heroes completely new backstories, though still using the original Dot A heroes as a base.
Is there another trope for where a work uses original characters and settings as a base (and is its own standalone work), but it is otherwise unconnected to the source that inspired it, yet it looks similar?
I don't think it's Spiritual Successor as the work that inspired it, Warcraft, is still out.
If anyone could help find the tropes I'd appreciate it.
openExistential Crime?
Like, when the very existence of someone is regarded as a sin or wrong, no actions required. It crops up enough in anime/manga, film, literature, mythology, and religion that I think it should have its own trope, but I can't find one that fits. I've noticed people putting these under All Crimes Are Equal but that doesn't really work. Is there a trope like this, or should I put it to TLP?
openAbusive
Is there a trope that deals with abusive parents getting what they deserved? Either getting beaten themselves or arrested for what they did to their kid. Do we have a trope that deals with that, kinda like the Wife-Basher Basher trope deals with abusive husbands getting their comeuppance.
openFreedom is scary
Do we have this one? Similar to Hope Is Scary, a character that was once oppressed finds themselves suddenly free and able to choose what they want to do with the rest of their lives. Cue What Do We Do Now, except it's not necessarily an ending trope (though it can be) and the freed character in question doesn't have to be a hero or have gone on some crazy adventure to apply. They may even be slaves freed by the heroes during the course of the story now grappling with what the question of what to do with their newfound freedom. Especially if said slaves were born into slavery and have never known anything else. This is not the same as Happiness in Slavery, since the newly freed characters are often overjoyed to be free and might even have been working towards this freedom themselves for the majority of the story. Also, the characters don't necessarily need to be literally imprisoned and freed for this to count. They may be freed in a more metaphorical sense from obligations, responsibilities, etc. It could even be that the character was working towards some goal and, now, with their goal fulfilled (or upon realizing their goal wasn't really what they wanted or that it was somehow ignoble or futile and subsequently abandoning it) they are left with the question of what to do with themselves. This is often the case with characters who have been working towards a specific goal for a long time or who have born certain obligations for a long time. And as happy as they may be to be free/start over, it's still kind of scary to not know what they should do next. In this way, it's also similar to Hope Is Scary in that the character has become so used to a certain way of life or doing things, so even if the change is positive it's still a bit overwhelming and frightening because of the whole fear of the unknown. In more cynical works, this results in a loss of identity and a restlessness that may never be quelled, a hole where that goal/responsibility/imprisonment used to be that may never be filled. Sadly, this can be seen both in fiction and in Real Life with soldiers who never fully adapt back to civilian life. In works falling on the more ideal side of the scale, this dilemma presents an opportunity for self-discovery and growth. The change may be frightening and the character may wander aimlessly for a little while, but this is presented as a good thing, as something exciting, an adventure. And, eventually, the character does find something else to occupy their time, a new goal or way of life to replace their old one. In some extreme cases, the character in question may even discover a whole new identity! Sorry for the long description, but if anyone can help me locate this trope/these tropes I'd be super grateful! If it doesn't exist, though, please let me know. Maybe I will start a new trope page, if this one does not yet exist. :)
openNon standard game mechanic justification Videogame
the in-universe explanation for a mechanic in a game differs from the way that mechanic is normally justified in other games thus painting the mechanic in a different narrative light. Example:most rpg's justify the mechanic of leveling up with the logic that defeating enemies makes you physically stronger and more skilled in combat. Undertale, on the other hand, justifies that mechanic with the logic that killing enemies makes you more comfortable with the idea of killing, emotionally speaking, thus giving the mechanic a different narrative meaning. Is there a page for that sort of thing yet?
openMother complains about her kids not visiting her
Is there a trope for when a mother complains to her kids that they never visit her?
openFictional games
Is there a trope for fictional games that are not necessarily Fictional Video Games?
The examples I'm thinking of are Tongo and Dabo from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Edited by superkeijikunopenSomething that triggers depression?
If Berserk Button is the trope for anything that guarantees to make the character mad, what would be the trope for things that would definitely trigger a specific character and send him/her to instant depression?
openSeeing a friend/loved one kill someone for the first time
In The World Is Not Enough, M is visibly unnerved to see James Bond kill someone in front of her eyes for the first time. Something similar happens when Jamie Lee Curtis' character sees Arnold doing his job in True Lies. Indiana Jones' father is flustered to see his son kill a bunch of bad guys in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. I haven't watched The Americans but I'm told there's a similar moment involving the protagonists' offspring. Is there a trope that covers these sorts of moments where a loved one or friend - who either is already aware of the person being a killer or only discovers it by seeing them in action - witnesses it for the first time and is either disturbed by it, or perhaps is accepting of it, even if they don't like what they see? It could be a non-lethal version too, like seeing someone beat up a bunch of people. It's not necessarily What the Hell, Hero?, which is tied in with questioning actions. Nor am I referring to new acquaintances reacting with shock (see, for example, Vesper in Casino Royale (2006) or Honey in Dr. No) - I mean longtime acquaintances or relatives.
Edited by TheSaddlemanopenToo in-character
What's the trope for this situation: Bob is pulling a Janitor Impersonation Infiltration to let the rest of the team inside a building. He ends up running late to let them in because he was dealing with a particularly scrub-resistant toilet. He wasn't being watched by security or trying to look the part, he just sort of forgot he wasn't an actual janitor. Similarly, when security shows up and there's a firefight he's outraged that they're getting gunpowder and blood on the carpet he just vacuumed.
I don't think Becoming the Mask really fits, since that seems to be more becoming accustomed to the role over time.
Edited by Chabal2
James is a police officer who deals with violence, murders, wounds and various other scuffles. Bob, his actor, hates gore of any shape or form and has major hang ups over dead bodies. Is there trope for this?