TV Tropes: Love 'em or Loathe 'em

[tearknee]

I'm surprised College Humor etc. hasn't gotten the Dohring twins (Growing Pains), the Merriman twins (Family Ties) and others such to do a sketch together poking fun at SORAS and their replacement.

[tearknee]

'Wait I minute... I get it... you're THE DEVIL!'

'At your service...' *smug smile*

Bonus points if the Horned One is played by a debonair, charming, bearded character actor in a double-breasted suit and silk cravat. Double bonus points if, prior to his unmasking, said character has a laughably transparent nom-de-plume. 'Oh, I have had many names, but you may call me... Mr Lucien De Ablo'.

[DoctorAtomic]

The devil is supposed to be charming, but because that's the trope you really need an actor to pull it off.

"Because you fucking shot me Daniel!"

[Raja]

In any show with an alien invasion in the first battle human weapons can do nothing. By the second episode the secret experimental bullets are issued worldwide and citizen militias fight as well as special forces.

[Fool to cry]

 

 

[Raja]

1 hour ago, Fool to cry said:

 

 

Sounds like a story from the Weimer Republic 

[tearknee]

3 hours ago, Raja said:

Sounds like a story from the Weimer Republic 

Don't forget Saltin! He was even worse than Stalin!

[tearknee]

Historical Beauty Update:

 

As TV Tropes notes, Jena Malone ia better looking than the real Geli Raubal.

 

An inverse: Emily Perkins is not as good looking as the real Christie Downs. To be fair, the costume doesn't help.

 

[tearknee]

The Other Marty.

 

While Eric Stoltz was no loss, this one hurts as even they could have made it worth watching as Raul Julia did for Streetfighter:

 

[Mod-Tigerkatze]

Hi everyone, 

just dropping in to let you know that the conversation about credits has found a new home here. 

Carry on. 

[tearknee]

I'm surprised Sliders or a show like it hasn't done Elizabeth Blaesing entering politics in the 1950s/60s intent on redeeming her father's memory.

I mean Helga Goebbels seems an omnipresent guest character in pro and amateur "Hitler's Germany survives" timelines and that's mainly cause she was the only one of the six who tried to fight back as the Soviet doctor found bruses on her arms and face.

[tearknee]

American PSAs hosted by actors of the relevant network's hit shows -- sometimes in their character's costume or general "look" -- and sometimes the dialogue is also done as if they are in-character:

Edited September 7 by tearknee

[Fool to cry]

Thank you moviemakers for letting us know how fast a car is driving by showing a hot girl's short skirt blow up as it passes by.

 

[Mabinogia]

44 minutes ago, Fool to cry said:

Thank you moviemakers for letting us know how fast a car is driving by showing a hot girl's short skirt blow up as it passes by.

Actress: And why do I have to show my knickers?

Director: It is VERY important to the plot that we know the car is speeding.

Actress: Couldn't you show a pile of newspapers fly off the newsstand? Or just show the speedometer, or an Afgan hound's hair gets blown.

Director: This is your only part in the film, just stand there, let your skirt go up and get paid. 

Life as an actress in Hollywood. Good times. 

[Raja]

1 hour ago, Fool to cry said:

Thank you moviemakers for letting us know how fast a car is driving by showing a hot girl's short skirt blow up as it passes by.

 

Give some of the audience what they want, catch the rest with other scenes 

[tearknee]

Of course, it shouldn't be different for cishet guys to check out cishet girls and women or have scenes in visual media oriented with that in mind -- within reasonable bounds. It's likely that in a less violent and misogynist world sometime in the future that this will be a reality

[Cobalt Stargazer]

3 hours ago, tearknee said:

Of course, it shouldn't be different for cishet guys to check out cishet girls and women or have scenes in visual media oriented with that in mind -- within reasonable bounds. It's likely that in a less violent and misogynist world sometime in the future that this will be a reality

Then again, this is why we can watch Saving Private Ryan with its many scenes of battle related gore without issue, but women on TV have sex with their bras on.

[Raja]

9 minutes ago, Cobalt Stargazer said:

Then again, this is why we can watch Saving Private Ryan with its many scenes of battle related gore without issue, but women on TV have sex with their bras on.

It is a weird world where movie fighting gore can come to TV but in the quest for the most marketable rating "prestigious TV" sexual content doesn't make it to mainstream movies anymore 

[tearknee]

30 minutes ago, Cobalt Stargazer said:

Then again, this is why we can watch Saving Private Ryan with its many scenes of battle related gore without issue, but women on TV have sex with their bras on.

Dawson Casting - real teenagers fuck each other without giving a fuck about the law but TV and movies have to cast adults as "teens" as otherwise it constitutes child porn.

[Spartan Girl]

The “screw you for not taking me back” trope. Look, breakups are hard, and feelings are raw, it is hard to be the bigger person. But if you’re the one that ultimately ended the relationship by…oh, say, cheating, then you have no right to act all salty and bitter because your apologies (that is, if you apologized) falls on deaf ears. You fucked up, so move on, and don’t be an asshole to the one you hurt. You’re only making them gladder that that dumped your ass.

I also really hate the trope where someone acts like they’re entitled to how their ex lives their personal life. Case in point: Walter on Ugly Betty. When he wasn’t stalking her or trying to bribe her with his half-assed apology gifts, he had the nerve to show up at her house, demanding to know why she had been out so late, and making snide remarks about how her new job is “changing” her because she dared to go to a party and have *gasp* a drink.

Why did she take him back again? Oh yeah, because her lousy, unsupportive, ungrateful family browbeat her into it. Ugggggggggh.

Anyway, my point is, when you’re broken up, you lose the right to judge each other, even if you manage to stay friends. You just come off as snide and rude. Ross and Rachel were guilty offenders of both tropes.

Edited September 10 by Spartan Girl

[Gharlane]

On 8/11/2024 at 12:57 AM, Mrsmaul2021 said:

I am still binging Family Matters and I will say, jokes do not land when they do not make sense.  It seems every other ep somebody was falling through the roof, my question is, how do they go from the roof straight to the living room? They just bypass the attic and second floor?  Even once when the roof was merely leaking, it went allllllll the way down to the living room.  Just stupid. 

It makes sense according to the laws of comedy!

On 8/13/2024 at 1:50 PM, meep.meep said:

Can he/she spot the scenes where Fred MacMurray isn't present with the rest of the actors?  Apparently he hated everyone else and didn't want to be there so they filmed him separately and pasted it all together.  A prime example of a show that continued long after it's expiration date.

Fred MacMurray had a busy schedule making Disney films and had to film around them. I am surprised this show was on for so long, tho.

 

On 9/7/2024 at 11:53 AM, tearknee said:

American PSAs hosted by actors of the relevant network's hit shows -- sometimes in their character's costume or general "look" -- and sometimes the dialogue is also done as if they are in-character:

Wasn't the title character of Small Wonder seen on a milk carton?🤔

VSEs always have the cast gathered around to repeat the Message at the end of the show. 

https://collider.com/sitcom-very-special-episodes-best-ranked/

[tearknee]

49 minutes ago, Gharlane said:

It makes sense according to the laws of comedy!

Fred MacMurray had a busy schedule making Disney films and had to film around them. I am surprised this show was on for so long, tho.

 

Wasn't the title character of Small Wonder seen on a milk carton?🤔

VSEs always have the cast gathered around to repeat the Message at the end of the show. 

https://collider.com/sitcom-very-special-episodes-best-ranked/

You can tell my screen cap is from the :33 PSA and not the actual tv show as whoever was in charge of these things has put way too much makeup on Miss Brissette.

Here's the PSA by the way:

 

[tearknee]

Role Association:

It seems that [2002 telemovie] Carrie White has a grudge against bullies who are also too secular on Jesus's birthday ;)

 

[JustHereForFood]

On 9/9/2024 at 2:49 AM, Cobalt Stargazer said:

Then again, this is why we can watch Saving Private Ryan with its many scenes of battle related gore without issue, but women on TV have sex with their bras on.

Honestly, I'm fine if fewer actresses are pressed into being naked on camera.

Edited September 11 by JustHereForFood
fewer, not less!

[tearknee]

As i said, it shouldn't be different for cishet guys to check out (or have romantic or sexual stuff) than cishet girls/women and maybe in a less violent and misogynist world that will happen.

 

Just Here For Food? Most people in the real world use less not fewer, and grammar pedantry tends to irritate them in my being bullied experience: '(

My school was a joke about bullies BTW :'(

[andromeda331]

3 hours ago, tearknee said:

As i said, it shouldn't be different for cishet guys to check out (or have romantic or sexual stuff) than cishet girls/women and maybe in a less violent and misogynist world that will happen.

 

Just Here For Food? Most people in the real world use less not fewer, and grammar pedantry tends to irritate them in my being bullied experience: '(

My school was a joke about bullies BTW :'(

So are my nephew's middle school. Their so afraid of ticking off parents' that they never did do anything. Great message to send to kids being bullied. And bullies who learn they can get away get with it. 

[Raja]

12 hours ago, JustHereForFood said:

Honestly, I'm fine if fewer actresses are pressed into being naked on camera.

I guess I've been trained by TV more than "prestige TV" R rated movies  and porn. But I can't get partners to keep their bra on.

[tearknee]

"Tyne Daly" sounds almost like a typo in the subject line of a Newcastle environmentalist group's daily email digest.

[Palimelon]

Is that a TV trope? I'm not familiar with that one...

[tearknee]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyne_Daly

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Tyne

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newcastle_upon_Tyne

It's a laugh, innit?

[Palimelon]

Must be a British humor thing. Still not seeing the trope...

[tearknee]

stretching AlmostFamousName on TVTropes Dot Org for a giggle

 

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AlmostFamousName

[Browncoat]

@tearknee, there's a TV quotes thread here:

 

There's also a movie quotes thread in the Everything Else Movies forum.

[Anduin]

I've gotten very sick of the 'chosen one' or someone with some special power, being yanked away from their happy cozy life and thrust into a life of adventure. If you want adventure, that's fine. But people who don't should be allowed to pursue the quiet life, no matter what powers they have. Writers should come up with different characters, ones that accept the exciting and dangerous path straight out of the gate.

[Affogato]

31 minutes ago, Anduin said:

I've gotten very sick of the 'chosen one' or someone with some special power, being yanked away from their happy cozy life and thrust into a life of adventure. If you want adventure, that's fine. But people who don't should be allowed to pursue the quiet life, no matter what powers they have. Writers should come up with different characters, ones that accept the exciting and dangerous path straight out of the gate.

I remember Jane Espenson talking about ‘the Chosen One’ as being incredibly popular and how she would use that format if she wanted a hit show. In fairness, though, Harry Potter did not have a cozy life. Buffy’s parents were divorced and she had just moved to a new town and school. The hobbitses were pretty much chosen by chance, not actually chosen. 

[Anduin]

6 hours ago, Affogato said:

I remember Jane Espenson talking about ‘the Chosen One’ as being incredibly popular and how she would use that format if she wanted a hit show. In fairness, though, Harry Potter did not have a cozy life. Buffy’s parents were divorced and she had just moved to a new town and school. The hobbitses were pretty much chosen by chance, not actually chosen. 

Yes, I know all that. It was more inspired by the new Star Wars Lego show. Here's a guy who's enjoying his life, everything's mostly going smoothly, doesn't want to use the Force, but gets his arm twisted by his adventurous brother, everything gets messed up and he has go to fix it again. Annoying, and I've seen other things like that too.

I want writers to ease back on the whole unwilling part. Let the heroes choose adventure instead of adventure choosing them.

[Affogato]

19 minutes ago, Anduin said:

Yes, I know all that. It was more inspired by the new Star Wars Lego show. Here's a guy who's enjoying his life, everything's mostly going smoothly, doesn't want to use the Force, but gets his arm twisted by his adventurous brother, everything gets messed up and he has go to fix it again. Annoying, and I've seen other things like that too.

I want writers to ease back on the whole unwilling part. Let the heroes choose adventure instead of adventure choosing them.

Lifetime movies do this thing. Perfect woman,  family is the most important thing for her, although she had an appropriate job. Suddenly something happens. The men who should protect her die or prove to be horrible people. She has to find out something,  rescue her kidnapped child, etc, doing things  she had never done before. Along the way she meets a man who becomes her new protector and can stop doing for herself. It is a way to have a woman be an action hero, but still be a damsel who needs rescuing. 
 

Everyone likes to fantasize they would rise to the occasion? But most people fon’t want to be uncomfortable otherwise?

[Affogato]

3 hours ago, tearknee said:

See: how *most* people were passive or complicit in Germany and German-occupied lands during the Nazi era and Vichy French head of state Marshal Petain had large and welcoming crowds on his visit to Paris in early 1944.

 

Yes vichy France was opposed by free France. I’m sure there are many tv tropes that are related. The French Resistance likely has many long pages. 
 

i’m not sure what this has to do with the lifetime movie thing. It is true that in that setting women are often allowed to be strong and brave until the men come home. Which is a trope that is related. 
 

[tearknee]

I bolded the point you were making that I agree with. 

[tearknee]

In other words, I was agreeing with your point that most people in RL do not resist or challenge as they know that if they keep their head down that they will likely survive and the amount of those that did are often inflated or outright fabricated in retrospect.

Edited September 17 by tearknee

[Spartan Girl]

A trope I have come to hate is a character being treated like they’re a sociopath or at least emotionally deficient just because they don’t cry, or at least don’t want to cry in front of anyone else. Whenever someone dies and somebody has to audacity to accuse that character of not mourning properly because they aren’t crying, I want to smack that person really hard.

People just grieve in different ways. That doesn’t make it wrong. More importantly: nobody owes you their tears.

[kathyk2]

9 hours ago, Spartan Girl said:

A trope I have come to hate is a character being treated like they’re a sociopath or at least emotionally deficient just because they don’t cry, or at least don’t want to cry in front of anyone else. Whenever someone dies and somebody has to audacity to accuse that character of not mourning properly because they aren’t crying, I want to smack that person really hard.

People just grieve in different ways. That doesn’t make it wrong. More importantly: nobody owes you their tears.

This trope occurs in real life as well. I watch true crime shows and the police are always suspicious if someone isn't crying. There have been many cases when someone was emotional and they did the crime.

[andromeda331]

9 hours ago, Spartan Girl said:

A trope I have come to hate is a character being treated like they’re a sociopath or at least emotionally deficient just because they don’t cry, or at least don’t want to cry in front of anyone else. Whenever someone dies and somebody has to audacity to accuse that character of not mourning properly because they aren’t crying, I want to smack that person really hard.

People just grieve in different ways. That doesn’t make it wrong. More importantly: nobody owes you their tears.

So do I. There's an episode of Person of Interest that has a Shaw flashback to her being a kid and learning her father was killed in an accident. The EMT/paramdics are shocked that Shaw has no reaction to and just contiunes to eat her sandwich. This is suppose to be a sign that Shaw's "different" or has no emotions. I don't even like Shaw but it doesn't show anything. She's a kid. It's not a sign of anything. Maybe she's not emotional, maybe she doesn't understand, maybe it hasn't hit. Maybe she's a kid and their being way too hard on her. 

[Affogato]

If I remember correctly the movie “a cry in the dark”, Meryl Streep, about Lindy Chamberlain (imprisoned when a dingo took her baby, later acquitted) implied that the general outcry was against her because she didn’t appear emotional enough. 

[Bastet]

9 hours ago, Spartan Girl said:

A trope I have come to hate is a character being treated like they’re a sociopath or at least emotionally deficient just because they don’t cry, or at least don’t want to cry in front of anyone else.

I appreciate that Major Crimes avoided that trope with Sharon Raydor, who leaves the room rather than crying in front of anyone in her squad.  It wouldn't actually mean she's weak if she did, but this woman is in her sixties, having dealt with a male-dominated paramilitary organization her entire adult life -- she knows damn well the reality is there are many who would take it as evidence women "can't handle" the job, so she's trained herself to avoid it.

It also just fits her personality, that she prefers to process on her own, even in personal situations.  She cries in front of her husband precisely one time, and it's when she's completely overwhelmed during a health crisis.  And that moment is not presented as some great breakthrough, that she's finally doing what she should be doing in sharing that with him.  It's always just who she is, that it would only ever happen in a moment like that, and it's not anything someone ever acts like needs to "fix" about herself.

[Spartan Girl]

1 hour ago, kathyk2 said:

This trope occurs in real life as well. I watch true crime shows and the police are always suspicious if someone isn't crying. There have been many cases when someone was emotional and they did the crime.

Bingo.

It really bothered me how in Buffy Riley treated Buffy not wanting to break down in his arms and keeping her tears private as somehow not needing him, and used it to justify visiting a vampire hooker. I get wanting to be there for a loved one feeling hurt when they push you away, but Buffy wasn’t pushing him away, she just coping with her own grief and helplessness by taking charge of everything (because God knows everyone on that show expected her to take care of them). She said as much when Dawn put the “you’re not even crying” crap on her.

[Cobalt Stargazer]

4 hours ago, Spartan Girl said:

Bingo.

It really bothered me how in Buffy Riley treated Buffy not wanting to break down in his arms and keeping her tears private as somehow not needing him, and used it to justify visiting a vampire hooker. I get wanting to be there for a loved one feeling hurt when they push you away, but Buffy wasn’t pushing him away, she just coping with her own grief and helplessness by taking charge of everything (because God knows everyone on that show expected her to take care of them). She said as much when Dawn put the “you’re not even crying” crap on her.

None of the stuff Buffy was having to take care of or worry about (Joyce's illness, Dawn, Glory) was an issue when Who Are You? happened, though, and I don't believe her relationship with Riley ever recovered. His pre-existing insecurities were exacerbated in the aftermath, and Buffy's stoicism once those things did come into play didn't help. I agree with what you're saying in general, but it really is okay to admit that Buffy is a flawed character. 🙂

[Spartan Girl]

56 minutes ago, Cobalt Stargazer said:

None of the stuff Buffy was having to take care of or worry about (Joyce's illness, Dawn, Glory) was an issue when Who Are You? happened, though, and I don't believe her relationship with Riley ever recovered. His pre-existing insecurities were exacerbated in the aftermath, and Buffy's stoicism once those things did come into play didn't help. I agree with what you're saying in general, but it really is okay to admit that Buffy is a flawed character. 🙂

Oh yes she was. And to prove it, another trope I hate is someone rubbing their new relationship in their ex’s face, and it was REALLY shitty of Buffy to do that in the Faith crossover event on Angel just because Angel rightfully called her out on using him as an excuse to seek revenge against Faith. For her to just bring up Riley and how she supposedly knew and trusted him more than Angel** was a spiteful and immature move on her part, knowing that he didn’t have the same freedom to seek other relationships (or so he thought at the time) and so was her snotty parting shot that “Faith wins again.” No, Buff, that one was all you.

See? I’m not a complete Buffy apologist. Happy now? 😀

**A statement that would later age like a banana. 

Edited October 4 by Spartan Girl

[Annber03]

5 hours ago, kathyk2 said:

This trope occurs in real life as well. I watch true crime shows and the police are always suspicious if someone isn't crying. There have been many cases when someone was emotional and they did the crime.

Exactly. Either that, or htey knwo that people scrutinize things like that, so they go SO over the top with their "emotional" reaction, to where it becomes obvious that they are overacting and faking it. 

[Affogato]

 Nevermind

Edited October 5 by Affogato