# Examples of Deus Ex Machina \*\*Spoilers Obviously\*\* **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 13, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410 "2003-09-13T17:32:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410/81 "2003-09-16T13:22:41Z")
The ball of electricity that explodes the nuke in The Stand is shot from Randall Flagg’s finger. I thought the point was that Satan does God’s work, involuntarily. Lame perhaps, but arguably not a DEM. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410/82 "2003-09-16T16:38:19Z")
Mystery Science Theater 3000: So Joel doesn’t want to host anymore. Mike Nelson is going to replace him. How to get Joel off the Satellite of Love? DEM! Simply announce that there’s an escape pod onboard in a box marked “Hamdingers”. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410/83 "2003-09-16T17:37:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KGS \* > \*\*In _On Writing_, King describes how he got 500 pages into **The Stand** and got stuck – there were too many plot threads going on at once. After weeks of writer’s block, he finally solved the problem by planting the bomb in Nick Andros’s closet (killing half the main characters) and then following up with the A-bomb in Las Vegas (killing the rest.) > > \*\* I think this validates my Stephen King Rule of Thumb: avoid anything he’s done that goes over 500 pages. Definitely an inverse relationship between quality and quantity in his stuff. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by qts \* > **Surely the Deus Ex Machina in LOTR is the arrival of the giant eagles to rescue Sam and Frodo?** In the Harvard Lampoon’s parody “Bored of the Rings”, the eagle says “thanks for flying Deus Ex Machina Airlines”. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410/84 "2003-09-16T17:41:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fibber McGee \* > \*\*It’s been a while since I read WotW (so long I’ve forgotten almost all of the details ☹ ) but if the possibility that the Martians might be vulerable to human illness is never even hinted at until the end, then yes it’s a deus ex machina. \*\* I dunno, maybe…I think it’s Irony, though. Makes a great ending (IMHO). ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410/85 "2003-09-16T17:48:29Z")
That’s a great one, **ElwoodCuse** …I wonder why someone didn’t mention it before? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410/86 "2003-09-16T21:31:59Z")
I’d say the ending of **War of the Worlds** is a Deus Ex Machina. Only, in this case it actually works, at least partially because it is an extension of the themes found throughout the rest of the book. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410/87 "2003-09-16T22:48:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shodan \* > \*\*The ball of electricity that explodes the nuke in The Stand is shot from Randall Flagg’s finger. > > I thought the point was that Satan does God’s work, involuntarily. Lame perhaps, but arguably not a DEM. \*\* In the book, maybe. In the (excellent) mini-series, something that looks suspiciously of the National Lottery Finger descends and sets it off. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410/88 "2003-09-16T23:06:46Z")
**ARK ARK ARK ARK ARK** [Arc](http://www.1upinfo.com/encyclopedia/A/arc-geo.html) [**ARK**](http://www.bibletruth.net/florlane/Tabernacle/ark.htm) That is all. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410/89 "2003-09-16T23:20:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > The flooding of the Tennessee Valley in _O Brother Where Art Thou_. This was briefly foreshadowed at the beginning, but it was easy to miss. As I recall, it was pretty well established that the valley was going to be flooded. It was the whole reason the guys were in such a hurry to get back to Clooney’s home. He was telling his buddies he had money buried there. The upcoming flooding of the valley is mentioned on their journey a few times. It is mentioned again near the end when his wife tells him she has to have her old wedding ring, which is in the rolltop desk in their old house in the valley to be flooded. ---
**Author:** ![sax\_tat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@sax\_tat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sax_tat)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410/90 "2003-09-16T23:52:44Z")
I don’t buy WAR OF THE WORLDS. That was more of something we take for granted–germs, that is; when it was written, even humans could be decimated by the flu–and Wells probably didn’t mean it this way, but it mirrors how the Europeans put the first big dent in the original American population, tho you could argue that the Europeans were the Martians in that case. I guess the point is that we have historic proof that resistance to germs isn’t universal, and germs on Earth are so obvious to us that they shouldn’t need to be written into a story. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410/91 "2003-09-25T23:02:58Z")
To me, the most perfect examples of _deus ex machina_ are in Gilbert and Sullivan. Whose light operas, of course, were largely satires of grand operas. Which were themselves invented around the 1600s as an attempt to revive Greek drama. Point the first: **HMS Pinafore**. Humble sailor Ralph cannot marry his beloved Josephine, because she is the daughter of the wealthy, upper class captain. _Deus ex machina_: Little Buttercup reveals that Ralph and the Captain were switched in infancy, so Ralph is actually upper class and may now marry whomever he wishes. All sing and dance happily. Point the second: **Pirates of Penzance**. Having surrendered to the police, the pirates are to taken away to face their punishment. _Deus ex machina_: Ruth revels that the pirates are actually noblemen gone wrong, and thereby worthy of forgiveness. All sing and dance happily. Point the third: **Ruddigore**. Robin lives under a curse and is obligated to do something evil every day or die horribly. Being timid and gentle, he can’t bear to fulfill his duty. _Deus ex machina_: He points out that failing to perform his daily crime is tantamount to suicide, which is itself a crime. The curse vanishes in a puff of logic. All sing and dance happily. Point the fourth: **The Mikado**. Koko’s failure to obey a direct order from the emperor has been proven beyond any doubt. The emperor himself demands an explanation. _Deus ex machina_: Koko points out that His Majesty’s word is law and is absolute; since the emperor had ordered a thing done, it logically follows that the thing _had_ been done. Impressed with this logic, His Majesty is pleased. All sing and dance happily. And so on, and so on. The key to the _deus ex machina_ is that is provides a wonderfully convenient (though highly contrived) solution to the problem at hand. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410/92 "2003-09-25T23:49:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kizarvexius \* > \*\*To me, the most perfect examples of _deus ex machina_ are in Gilbert and Sullivan. Whose light operas, of course, were largely satires of grand operas. Which were themselves invented around the 1600s as an attempt to revive Greek drama. > > Point the first: **HMS Pinafore**. > > Point the second: **Pirates of Penzance**. > > Point the third: **Ruddigore**. > > Point the fourth: **The Mikado**.\*\* Those last two absolutely aren’t DEM, because the hero saves himself. DEM _demands_ outside intervention. Also, IMO the first two aren’t DEM either - just plot contrivances. \*\* > [@](#): > > And so on, and so on. The key to the _deus ex machina_ is that is provides a wonderfully convenient (though highly contrived) solution to the problem at hand. \*\* No, the key to deus ex machina is that it solves all problems _without_ contrivance. God simply turns up and fixes everything - no argument can be made against it. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410/93 "2003-09-26T00:02:58Z")
I’d say Little Buttercup in Pinafore is as close to DEM as it gets. She’s outside the plot machinations until the very end, when she swoops in to say “oops…did I forget to mention that I switched babies?” ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410/94 "2003-09-26T00:15:59Z")
I would say that the Ruddigore and Mikado examples are definitely not DEMs, though, because they do follow from the logic of the story. They are practically the opposite of DEM. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410/95 "2003-09-26T05:45:02Z")
> [@](#): > > In the book, maybe. In the (excellent) mini-series, something that looks suspiciously of the National Lottery Finger descends and sets it off. Come now, Have you never seen the hand of God before? ---
**Author:** ![Forty-Six\_Two](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/919ad9/32.png) [@Forty-Six\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Forty-Six_Two)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410/96 "2003-09-26T08:09:01Z")
Uh, I might have missed somebody else mentioning this, but… \Magnolia\ is the very first thing that jumps to my head. Frogs anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Forty-Six\_Two](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/919ad9/32.png) [@Forty-Six\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Forty-Six_Two)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410/97 "2003-09-26T08:10:45Z")
Oh, good, HTML doesn’t work. Egg on my face! ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410/98 "2003-09-26T08:27:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny Q \* > \*\*Come now, Have you never seen the hand of God before? \*\* I know what it’s _meant_ to be. It was just an unfortunate method of showing it at the time. Forty-six, use square brackets instead of \<\>'s and everything wil work. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410/99 "2003-09-26T10:09:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KGS \* > \*\* > _Deux ex Machina_ is Greek for “God in the Machine”, \*\* No it isn’t. It’s Latin for “God from the Crane” or thereabouts - as in, a stage crane lowering the actor from the heavens. It was Greek theatre that the Latin phrase described, though. At the climax of _Watership Down_, Hazel has loosed the farm dog so it can be lured down to the warren where it will raise General Woundwort’s siege, but Hazel is pounced on by a cat. The chapter closes on that dramatic note, and the scene then shifts to the interior of the farmhouse where the little girl is just waking up, and she, hearing the cat tormenting a rabbit, goes out and shoos it away, whereupon Hazel, getting the once-over from the doctor who is visiting the farmhouse, is given a car-ride back home. However, Richard Adams does suffer enough of a fit of authorial honesty to title the chapter _Dea Ex Machina_. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-deus-ex-machina-spoilers-obviously/201410.md?page=4)