TV Tropes: Love 'em or Loathe 'em

[Gharlane]

11 hours ago, paulvdb said:

Or a divorced couple find out that they're not really divorced and have to quickly get the divorce papers signed because one of them is getting married to someone else.

Or they haven't told their visiting parents, who think they're still happily married. 

[Lugal]

On 2/20/2025 at 6:47 AM, ABay said:

Never participate or watch a battle re-enactment. Someone is going to die. It's inevitable.

Plus there's a chance that you'll end up time traveling back and have to fight in the actual battle!

[DrSpaceman73]

On 2/20/2025 at 1:24 PM, proserpina65 said:

Especially since Ross' parents WERE there.  But not when Carol gave birth to Ross' first child.  Weird as hell.

 

Grey's Anatomy did a whole season like this.  The only episode where it worked was the one in which Christina went to Switzerland and re-encountered Burke.  The slowed down version of Like a Virgin fit the scene.  The rest of the season?  Not at all.

Suits built an entire series around a main character hiding that they never attended law school despite acting as an attorney.  It was stupid then and it's still stupid.  It annoyed the hell out of me because it would've called into legal question every single case on which that character work and would've possibly involved disbarment for any attorney at the firm who knew the truth.

Community that was the same premise.  Lawyer is caught without an undergrad  degree has to go back to college.  Though I guess I wasn't clear on if he had a paw degree. Seemed to be just his undergrad. 

[tearknee]

6 hours ago, Lugal said:

Plus there's a chance that you'll end up time traveling back and have to fight in the actual battle!

 

[tearknee]

6 hours ago, Lugal said:

Plus, there's a chance that you'll end up time traveling back and have to fight in the actual battle!

I prefer that in "Read All About It!" because A) it was Canadian and B) it used the War of 1812 instead of Gettysburg!

Edited February 21 by tearknee

[andromeda331]

Everyone loves one character or no one could hate that character. On NCIS someone is out to get Abby and everyone is shocked. Who could hate Abby? Ah, lots of people could. Since the episode aired in season three I already hated Abby. Gilmore Girls it's Rory, who no one could hate. Ah, yes they can. Not only is annoying it's also unrealistic. There's very few people in the world or characters that everyone loves or everyone hates.

[Zella]

10 hours ago, andromeda331 said:

Everyone loves one character or no one could hate that character. On NCIS someone is out to get Abby and everyone is shocked. Who could hate Abby? Ah, lots of people could. Since the episode aired in season three I already hated Abby. Gilmore Girls it's Rory, who no one could hate. Ah, yes they can. Not only is annoying it's also unrealistic. There's very few people in the world or characters that everyone loves or everyone hates.

Come sit by me. I also couldn't stand Abby. LOL

[andromeda331]

10 hours ago, Zella said:

Come sit by me. I also couldn't stand Abby. LOL

I liked her in the first season. She was cool and fun. She somehow went downhill from there.

[Zella]

7 minutes ago, andromeda331 said:

I liked her in the first season. She was cool and fun. She somehow went downhill from there.

I don't know that I watched the first season--it all just became a blur as I watched it with my grandparents--but I can definitely see how the character would start out okay and then become highly Flanderized. 

[Trini]

A good description of the "Science Person" procedural trope form this article:

https://www.avclub.com/silly-pop-culture-jobs-the-accountant-veep-severance

Quote

All-purpose science person

Take it from someone who crapped out of grad school after two years in a neuroscience lab: Scientists are smart folk—when they’re operating in their fields of expertise. Outside those narrow lanes of specialization, though, things can get a little dicier, which is part of why I can’t help but laugh any time I’m watching TV and an all-purpose “science person” is there to handle any problems that might conceivably involve wearing a lab coat. Although you can trace this “job” back to Mr. Spock on Star Trek and The Professor on Gilligan’s Island (and beyond), it truly came to flower in the era of the TV procedural. After all, it’s way easier (and more cost-effective) to have one cast member who can handle all your lab-based exposition, rather than bring in a series of experts (and their day rates) to deliver lines about individual disciplines. Much simpler to just create a character like NCIS‘s Abby Sciuto (Pauley Paurrette), who’s essentially a one-woman forensics van, handling any and all DNA analysis, blood spatter, ballistics, hacking tasks, etc.—you know, smart people stuff!

 

Similar to doctors on medical show who practice ALL the medicine; and lawyers who handle ANY case involving ANY law.

[andromeda331]

On 3/31/2025 at 7:00 PM, Trini said:

A good description of the "Science Person" procedural trope form this article:

https://www.avclub.com/silly-pop-culture-jobs-the-accountant-veep-severance

 

Similar to doctors on medical show who practice ALL the medicine;

Including animals and being able to tell people diagnose people by just looking at them. 

[Gharlane]

On 2/21/2025 at 12:05 PM, Lugal said:

Plus there's a chance that you'll end up time traveling back and have to fight in the actual battle!

I remember a time-travel show TV show (Time Travel Hot Tub?) that subverted the trope somewhat by making the past more realistic (ie., shitty). For example, they went to Salem and the sister was immediately accused of being a witch; they met cavemen, who did nothing but eat and fuck all day; they tried to rescue Michael Jackson from his abusive parents and inadvertently gave him some bad ideas.

 

On 2/21/2025 at 1:29 PM, DrSpaceman73 said:

Community that was the same premise.  Lawyer is caught without an undergrad  degree has to go back to college.  Though I guess I wasn't clear on if he had a paw degree. 

Did he specialize in dog law?

[tearknee]

Scooby-Dooby Doo!

[DrSpaceman73]

On 4/3/2025 at 8:49 AM, Gharlane said:

I remember a time-travel show TV show (Time Travel Hot Tub?) that subverted the trope somewhat by making the past more realistic (ie., shitty). For example, they went to Salem and the sister was immediately accused of being a witch; they met cavemen, who did nothing but eat and fuck all day; they tried to rescue Michael Jackson from his abusive parents and inadvertently gave him some bad ideas.

 

Did he specialize in dog law?

That would be amazing!  I'd love dog lawyers.  

[Milburn Stone]

The Preternaturally Gifted Detective. An old trope, but there's a new entry. Whether the detective is more gifted than "normals" because of OCD, autism, or a freakishly high IQ, somehow the condition is central to their ability to solve crimes that normals can't solve. The new entry is Ludwig. It actually combines two previous shows, coming off as a cross between Astrid & Raphaëlle (autism) and High Potential (freakishly high IQ). This time the detective (played charmingly by David Mitchell) is a professional crossword/cryptogram deviser, whose ability to devise crosswords and cryptograms somehow enables him to also solve crimes! But the show is executed nicely, and also has the wonderful Anna Maxwell Martin. We'll keep watching.

[Affogato]

2 hours ago, Milburn Stone said:

The Preternaturally Gifted Detective. An old trope, but there's a new entry. Whether the detective is more gifted than "normals" because of OCD, autism, or a freakishly high IQ, somehow the condition is central to their ability to solve crimes that normals can't solve. The new entry is Ludwig. It actually combines two previous shows, coming off as a cross between Astrid & Raphaëlle (autism) and High Potential (freakishly high IQ). This time the detective (played charmingly by David Mitchell) is a professional crossword/cryptogram deviser, whose ability to devise crosswords and cryptograms somehow enables him to also solve crimes! But the show is executed nicely, and also has the wonderful Anna Maxwell Martin. We'll keep watching.

The CumberbachvSherlock was autistic high IQ. House was APD/high IQ. 

[Anduin]

Just a thought that popped into my mind. Whenever I've had my arm twisted into seeing a psych of some flavour, grumble grumble getting on perfectly well without your 'help' grumble grumble, it's always been either an armchair or office kind of chair at a desk. But the popular image is that reclining couch. Turns out that Sigmund Freud did indeed use a reclining couch, but it's been done away with over the years.

It's such an icon that when I looked up psychiatrist couch, I encountered one Freudian Couch Specialist Clinic. Not that I need or want their help, just fun to know that they're leaning into the image.

[Chaos Theory]

On a workplace show no one seems to have friends outside the workplace.

[tearknee]

actors playing real people that are better looking than the real people.

 

Even in Nazi-related period pieces:

 

Jena Malone as Geli Raubal:

 

 

The real Geli:

 

Even Downfall did it:

 

 

[Anduin]

I get why, in urban fantasy, so many supernatural beings are police or private detectives. It gives them a chance to roam all over and get into all kinds of situations. I'd just like to see another profession that allows such things. What else is there?

Hey, can you imagine a magical accountant? "I can make your losses disappear."

[Raja]

2 minutes ago, Anduin said:

I get why, in urban fantasy, so many supernatural beings are police or private detectives. It gives them a chance to roam all over and get into all kinds of situations. I'd just like to see another profession that allows such things. What else is there?

Reporters/writers are a popular choice.

[Anduin]

10 minutes ago, Raja said:

Reporters/writers are a popular choice.

Yeah, I realised that after I posted. :) But there must be something else!

[tearknee]

32 minutes ago, Anduin said:

I get why, in urban fantasy, so many supernatural beings are police or private detectives. It gives them a chance to roam all over and get into all kinds of situations. I'd just like to see another profession that allows such things. What else is there?

Hey, can you imagine a magical accountant? "I can make your losses disappear."

A magical bra or men's undies? 

[Affogato]

21 hours ago, Anduin said:

Yeah, I realised that after I posted. :) But there must be something else!

Kathy Bate’s Matlock is a lawyer. Matt Murdock as well. 
 

‘Busybody’ works, especially in small town cozies. Socialworker could work. Depends on plots, I suppose. Urban fantasy, psychic doctor. But PI and Police is comforting and familiar?

Edited May 12 by Affogato

[fastiller]

On 5/10/2025 at 11:22 PM, Anduin said:

I get why, in urban fantasy, so many supernatural beings are police or private detectives. It gives them a chance to roam all over and get into all kinds of situations. I'd just like to see another profession that allows such things. What else is there?

Hey, can you imagine a magical accountant? "I can make your losses disappear."

The thing that having these supernatural beings by police/PIs or reporters is that it allows for them to not just roam around but also to have a bit of a reason to ask tons of questions (busybodies indeed).  

Imagine a supernatural being as a construction worker or a restaurant server/busboy.  Actually, now that I think of it, a day laborer with superpowers would be a neat twist.

[Anduin]

29 minutes ago, fastiller said:

The thing that having these supernatural beings by police/PIs or reporters is that it allows for them to not just roam around but also to have a bit of a reason to ask tons of questions (busybodies indeed).  

Imagine a supernatural being as a construction worker or a restaurant server/busboy.  Actually, now that I think of it, a day laborer with superpowers would be a neat twist.

Yes, exactly!

The problem with those professions, they're a little too static. and part of a team. You need to break away from other people and go where you need to!

[Raja]

1 hour ago, fastiller said:

Imagine a supernatural being as a construction worker or a restaurant server/busboy.  Actually, now that I think of it, a day laborer with superpowers would be a neat twist.

Before Monica and Tess there was Jonathan Smith on Highway to Heaven.

[Affogato]

6 hours ago, Anduin said:

Yes, exactly!

The problem with those professions, they're a little too static. and part of a team. You need to break away from other people and go where you need to!

A lot of the paranormal romances … well, I don’t know that many. Nalini Singh’s Archangel Books has all the vampires/angels/whathaveyou, but the primary story is a billionaire (who happens to be an archangel) who meets a security guard and falls in love. What I’m saying is that you could have worked this story, and most of the others in the series, without anything supernatural going on. You would have to have a reason for said billionaire to be put into close contact with said normal (but feisty and plucky) young woman. Security guard, PI, cop, etc fits the bill. Or wedding planner, but that takes it out of the mystery genre. 

Once you set up the world you can have characters who start out as disabled city planners, or many other things, because the world is a fully functional one, even if it has a lot of openly unnatural types. 

[tearknee]

Chronically Killed Actor

 

[tearknee]

Has anyone pondered Santa Claus getting stuck in a chimney and then, like Augustus Gloop, the pressure from below causes Claus to shoot out of the chimney - with firetails that the DeLorean would envy?

[Fool to cry]

 

[Fool to cry]

 

[meep.meep]

On 5/10/2025 at 8:22 PM, Anduin said:

I get why, in urban fantasy, so many supernatural beings are police or private detectives. It gives them a chance to roam all over and get into all kinds of situations. I'd just like to see another profession that allows such things. What else is there?

Hey, can you imagine a magical accountant? "I can make your losses disappear."

watch Surreal Estate

[SweetieDarling]

When someone has been unknowingly drugged, and it begins to take effect while the victim is driving, the victim does not pull over even though they can tell they are impaired. Instead, the keep driving erratically until they crash.

[Anduin]

I was watching the latest Jurassic World trailer when something hit me. Real predatory animals are generally stealthy until it's time to charge their prey. They charge and bring it down with as little fuss or wasted effort as possible. They don't stop to roar in the prey's face.

[tearknee]

 


Trope: True crime telemovies and miniseries that are made far too quickly after the event.  

[meep.meep]

On 5/20/2025 at 6:32 AM, Anduin said:

I was watching the latest Jurassic World trailer when something hit me. Real predatory animals are generally stealthy until it's time to charge their prey. They charge and bring it down with as little fuss or wasted effort as possible. They don't stop to roar in the prey's face.

Bears do before they attack.  They are not predating but usually defending or protecting.  Lions and other pack hunting big cats will roar to startle the prey and separate it from the protection of its herd.

You need to watch more I was Prey!

[tearknee]

"Aw, c'mon, Sir! We're the only kids in Britain who never say f..."

 

[tearknee]

See also: "Rack off!" for when you can't say naughty words in a kid-friendly timeslot:
 

 

[meep.meep]

22 hours ago, meep.meep said:

Bears do before they attack.  They are not predating but usually defending or protecting.  Lions and other pack hunting big cats will roar to startle the prey and separate it from the protection of its herd.

You need to watch more I was Prey!

I'm a lying liar who lies.

Polar Bears will attack stealthily and quietly.  They're also the only bears who are likely to hunt humans so you have to watch out for them.

We need a thread about guilty TV pleasures because I was Prey would definitely be on mine.

[merylinkid]

On 5/20/2025 at 9:32 AM, Anduin said:

They don't stop to roar in the prey's face.

Who knew predators were just tropey villians who have to stop and explain their whole plan before killing.   

[tearknee]

Lorraine doesn't need George - her legs are on top of Biff's lap when G opens the door...

[tearknee]

By the way, AI almost makes Cole Sprouse into a more credible actual girl than Suite Life itself did.

 

 

[tearknee]

Dear TVTropes Dot Org

At:

 https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/NatalieGregory

You have a picture of someone who is not what your article covers.

This is the right one:

 

[andromeda331]

I love when shows have fun with names.

Night Court has an episode instead of Mo, Larry and Curly we have three nuns Mo, Laurie and Carla. An episode of Murdoch Mysteries has two suspects Simon and Theodore Alvin. NCIS had an episode with a Dr. Brad Pitt, not the real one of course. 

[tearknee]

and the Vicar of Dibley with Reg Dwight.