TV TROPES

Post Reply New Topic

I would like to point out that TVTropes has an excellent article on Asperger's Syndrome, too. If someone were to ask me about my disorder, that would be the article I'd point them to.

I just recently stumbled across this site.
It is fascinating, but I can sit and reference films, TV, and authors for hours on end ! !!

It's the TV site that never seems to end, and I like that.

There's a certain trope that I find really annoying and I can never find it. It usually involves characters misunderstanding and characters on either side (mostly other end) of the misunderstanding can show absolute naivety and/or stupidity. Cartoons I watched used it a lot.
Such an example includes: If the correct information was told sooner, then useless conflict would have been avoided.
Once I see this happening, an episode becomes unwatchable. Characters on the other end of the misunderstanding can have their feelings hurt for no reason (and won't tell us the full reason why until the end), suddenly think they're royalty (and act with such ungrateful manners), or attempt to do something about it with disastrous results. Innocent bystanders can get hurt even if they didn't do anything wrong or didn't do anything period. The character causing the misunderstanding is usually telling the wrong information by mistake, telling it at the wrong time, not telling everything (those three usually involve something misheard), OR they're in a situation and another character is spying on them and that particular character gets the wrong idea. The conflict is mostly resolved...horribly.
I've seen this time and time again and once I see an episode that has this particular trope, I try to avoid watching it again. I don't watch TV anymore. I still like cartoons but the thing is with the decline in quality in terms of writing nowadays, I fear this trope is being used full time.

The YMMV section for movies and shows often is a good read and often makes me question the validity of people who critique movies.

The "Real Life" ones always give me something of a good laugh.

Here's a trope that really pisses me off.
The Status Quo is God.
The only time this works is when all the characters are doomed and then it's Oh wait, no they're not and they'd better thank the Status Quo.
A character we never liked or cared about is brought back to life only to be hilariously killed off again.

Here's how it shouldn't work:
A character has a chance to find happiness but it's taken away at the last second. Writer Giveth or character already haveth and then writer taketh away. You just piss off so many people when you abuse a character (perhaps the only likable one remaining on the show) like that. Rather than a build up, it's gone in a split second or perhaps this: You were right to be mad. Don't take it back! Don't take it back!! Awwww... All we can learn from this is that it's okay to stay in an abusive relationship for the abusers benefit.
A character we've come to hate is given a chance to suffer. I don't care what emotions they want bring out of the audience. I just want to watch this character pay. What's that? No, don't save his life. No! No!! Let him feel the pain!! Why spare him?!
A character dies and they write a lame a** attempt to bring him back (even if that character was likable). Enough said.