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Admiralakbar1
Since: Dec, 2013
11th Jan, 2024 07:37:52 AM
This largely overlaps with Status Quo Is God and Failure Is the Only Option.
rasterax
Since: Sep, 2023
Mac_R
(Experienced, Not Yet Jaded)
24th Jan, 2024 05:33:50 PM
Limited Advancement Opportunities it is, thanks, rasterax
A character in a TV show keeps experiencing failure because if he succeded, it'd mean the character would be written off, or the show would end. I'm thinking in particular about the last episode of Community^ where Annie imagines a future where she fails at her dream FBI job to move back to Greendale (for what is clearly supposed to represent a seventh season of the show), meaning the character would still be on the show, but people would feel bad for her.
Or, it could be the inverse - something's bad for the actor, but good for the character - an actor gets unceremoniously fired, and the character is Put On A Bus To Heaven and given a happy ending offscreen.