You have a trope that you have seen a million times. It just needs a snappy name. Discuss it here! This is also a good place to call for examples.
How this works: Cruise through the list looking for a title or synopsis (which we call the 'laconic version') that might interest you. View the draft description with attached discussion, then give the sponsor your feedback and maybe an example or two of where you have seen the trope in media.
Have an awesome idea but think it might already exist? Check the Trope Finder or explore the TV Trope indexes to see whether another troper beat you to the punch.
Please see the TLP Guidelines for the full etiquette of TLP.
8 84Instantly Dated (Adopted by ImperialMajestyXO)
Real Life undercuts a plot point before a work is released
Created: Apr 10th 2019 at 4:24:59 AM
8 80Feigned Trope
Character deceives another into believing a trope is in effect, or has occurred. [A new Trope Trope / Playing With A Trope item.] (Grabbed by Star Sword)
Created: Aug 23rd 2020 at 10:18:43 AM
4 79Smart, Dumb, and In-Between (Adopted by IkeaHan)
The Smart Guy, The Ditz, and the person who is just average intellectually.
Created: Apr 19th 2022 at 6:23:37 AM
0 72Outlived The Premise
A series outlasts its original premise.
Created: Jan 8th 2016 at 4:59:06 AM
2 70Protagonists Make Poor Parents
The Protagonist grows up and has kids- but turns out to be bad at parenting. (Grabbed by harrietvanger)
Created: Jun 16th 2020 at 10:10:23 PM
10 68Massive Numbered Offspring
A character has a large number of children. (launch postponed because of ongoing debate over scope)
Created: Aug 22nd 2019 at 2:42:43 PM
0 67Cultural Erasure
Destroying the values, traditions, languages, and everything else that makes a certain group unique.
Created: Dec 26th 2016 at 12:12:25 AM
2 66Ascended Hoax (Up For Grabs)
We made this for April Fools... then we made it for real.
Created: May 30th 2014 at 7:46:24 PM
1 65Decoy Backstory
The supposed backstory of a character turns out to be a fake-out.
Created: Feb 3rd 2014 at 7:39:06 PM
1 64Hammy Villain, Serious Hero
Villain-hero foil: villain is energetic to contrast the hero's withdrawn nature. This fascinates the villain
Created: Aug 27th 2018 at 10:54:01 AM
5 61The "One Job!" Mistake
Some jobs just can't be trusted to certain people.
Created: Feb 9th 2015 at 1:11:34 PM
8 57Bubbly Blonde
A blonde character with a bubbly personality.
Created: Oct 4th 2017 at 6:39:43 PM
4 55Abuse Knows No Gender
The Double Standard of female abusers and rapists either not existing or not being as bad is explicitly challenged in the narrative.
Created: Oct 20th 2022 at 8:36:33 AM
1 53Our Clones Are Different
Cloning in this universe has its own unique rules distinct from the real world.
Created: Apr 19th 2022 at 1:15:42 PM
3 53Non-Jewish Holocaust Victims
Depictions of the non-Jewish victims of the Nazi regime in works about WWII
Created: Oct 13th 2013 at 2:38:37 AM
0 53Accidental Downer Ending
An ending that was originally intended to be a Cliffhanger ends up being the "permanent"/final ending because of vetos, cancellations and/or the creator Died During Production.
Created: Aug 3rd 2023 at 5:46:49 PM
8 52Took A Level In Loser (Adopted by Magister Flopsy) Launch postponed
A functional, competent and usually "uncool" character (usually a Cool Loser) becomes a pathetic, pitiable mess over time.
Created: Mar 18th 2021 at 4:00:13 AM
1 51Afraid Of Clowns
A character has a fear of clowns, frequently for the sake of irony.
Created: Jan 10th 2012 at 8:11:37 PM
2 49Genericasaurus (duplicate?)
It looks like a dinosaur but doesn't closely resemble anything in real life.
Created: Jun 12th 2015 at 11:09:40 AM
It looks like a dinosaur but doesn't closely resemble anything in real life.
Sponsor: batmany Created: Jun 12th 2015 at 11:09:40 AM Last reply: Jun 27th 2022 at 4:16:09 AM by Roy-G-Biv View draftLooking for a discussion you thought was here? One of two things could have happened.
It could have been launched or "discarded". Check here. Discarded just means that someone thought it had come to a resolution not needing a launch. It can be restored. Just push the "restore" button on the Launches list.
You thought you had written it up or read it here, but it was all just a dream or an elaborate daylight fantasy. Don't feel bad. It happens to us all.
6 101Death Flag
Once triggered, it's only a matter of time before someone dies.
Created: Aug 14th 2010 at 1:12:38 AM