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f1shst1x Since: Apr, 2011
2016-04-01 16:24:06

The index description says that Ending Tropes are "Methods of giving closure to an episode of a show, a Story Arc, or an entire series." A season finale would definitely fit.

Wyldchyld (Old as dirt)
2016-04-07 17:06:11

It looks like Dan was referring to an example I removed. I admit my edit reason might have been a bit laconic, which could have left it open to misinterpretation. My issue was whether the example fit the Bittersweet Ending because the villains have not been defeated - not even in an "end of season" way. In short, the villains achieved their goals, the Big Good is missing, a hero is dead, the city may have survived but it wasn't the primary target (the primary target has been destroyed), the population is isolated, terrified and another kingdom has been framed for what happened to them. Meanwhile The Man Behind the Man announces her plan is on track, and is only just beginning... cue end of season.

I've put the example back onto the Discussion Page for the work concerned to find out what the consensus is regarding the validity of the entry, given that the trope states that there must be a victory of some kind over the Big Bad for the heroes to end up in the "pyrrhic victory" position. There just isn't any kind of victory over the Big Bad yet. Right now the heroes have only just learned the identity of the Big Bad (they haven't even got to The Man Behind the Man yet). While the Big Bad did experience something unexpected in the finale, it was after the villains had achieved her goal, and what happened at that moment is a bit of a mystery, so it isn't an example of a hero being victorious over the villain.

Edited by Wyldchyld If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
bwburke94 (Y2: Electric Boogaloo)
2016-04-07 18:04:27

If it's an outright series finale i.e. Angel, then it clearly qualifies for those tropes.

2025: the year it all ends?
Karxrida Since: May, 2012
2016-04-07 18:09:55

The query is about season finales, not series finales.

The finale in question also lacks much of the "sweet" part of bittersweet. The villain mostly won (though that's due to You Can't Thwart Stage One).

LadyJaneGrey Since: Sep, 2015
2016-04-07 19:08:56

I've seen those Tropes used for stand-alone episodes.

MorningStar1337 Since: Nov, 2012
2016-04-08 22:53:17

@Wyldchild, your description sounds heavily like the RWBY Season 3 Finale, was that the example you removed?

Karxrida Since: May, 2012
2016-04-09 01:19:05

^I can confirm it's the RWBY Season 3 Finale.

Wyldchyld (Old as dirt)
2016-04-09 11:39:21

Sorry, yes, as Karxrida confirmed, it's the RWBY series 3 finale. I should have made that clear in my previous post.

Also, if I've caused any confusion between season/series, I apologise. In British English, a "series" means what Americans would call a "season", as well as the entire run of the show. I try to distinguish when on websites that are most populated by Americans, but I don't always remember. In this case, I'm talking about season 3's finale.

@Herald Alberich: Yes, I think you're probably right. If "Ray of Hope" Ending can apply to a season finale rather than the very end of the show, that does sound like the note Volume 3 ended on - the villain's on a high but the main character and some of her friends are nowhere near ready to give up just yet.

Edited by Wyldchyld If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
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