# Examples of this cliche - how you know a character is doomed! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 10, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411 "2012-03-10T22:12:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411/61 "2012-03-12T22:46:38Z")
If they are a new character that week and get into a dangerous situation (killer in their apartment, whatever) before the 21-minute mark. Always dead. The _next_ guy might get rescued, but not you. There’s too much of the episode left. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411/62 "2012-03-12T23:17:57Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Jason Nesmith: You’re not gonna die on the planet, Guy. > Guy Fleegman: I’m not? Then what’s my last name? > Jason Nesmith: It’s, uh, uh - -I don’t know. > Guy Fleegman: Nobody knows. Do you know why? Because my character isn’t important enough for a last name, because I’m gonna die five minutes in. > Gwen DeMarco: Guy, you have a last name. > Guy Fleegman: DO I? DO I? “We’ve got to get out of here before those things kill Guy!” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411/63 "2012-03-12T23:18:33Z")
Pete “Dead Meat” Thompson from **Hot Shots!** is a series of running gags on just this point, starting with a black cat running across his path, him walking under a ladder, and his wife breaking a mirror: > **[Movieclips](https://www.youtube.com/c/MOVIECLIPS)** > > Rotten Tomatoes MOVIECLIPS is the largest collection of movie clips on the web. We’ve curated the best moments, scenes, and lines from all your favorite films to share, discuss, and relive. We celebrate all movies from all eras and genres whether... [http://www.metacafe.com/watch/mv-TYZDn/dead\_meats\_lucky\_day/](http://www.metacafe.com/watch/mv-TYZDn/dead_meats_lucky_day/) ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411/64 "2012-03-12T23:23:15Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Basically just knowing John Constantine (unless you’re Chas) is fatal. Chas\*, or originally from a different title - Zatanna (perhaps the only one of John’s girlfriends to survive for an extended amount of time), and Swamp Thing and Abbie Arcane came out OK. (Of course, Z hates his guts, and Swampy was an odd case to begin with.) - Did something happen to his sister? Been a long while since I’ve read Hellblazer, and I was several years behind, even then… ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411/65 "2012-03-12T23:57:36Z")
Anyone who starts walking backwards in a scary place or situation. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411/66 "2012-03-13T00:07:23Z")
In a horror movie, never use a bathroom cabinet with a mirror surface. Because when you shut the door, the reflection shows the killer standing right behind you! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411/67 "2012-03-13T00:25:46Z")
The Drake Ramoray rule: Your character is played by an actor who pisses off the people who make the show. (See: Charlie Harper) ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411/68 "2012-03-13T05:18:23Z")
being Steve Buscemi in a Coen Brothers’ movie. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411/69 "2012-03-13T12:45:08Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Pete “Dead Meat” Thompson from **Hot Shots!** I caught a bit of Top Gun last night. Specificallly, the bit where our troubled but brilliant hero Maverick says to Goose: “You’re the only family I have, man.” Seriously, why not just stab the guy right then and have done with it? ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411/70 "2012-03-13T13:35:49Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > Unless it’s the movie, then it’s still fatal even if you’re Chas. That was John Constant **ee** n. Totally different guy. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411/71 "2012-03-13T13:48:22Z")
Calling home just to say, “I love you.” The call is often missed and a message left. Common to war movies. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411/72 "2012-03-13T14:23:57Z")
Telling someone powerful or important that you’re going to report their misdeeds in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411/73 "2012-03-14T00:56:50Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > A la Platoon. In the same movie he also didn’t use a cliche when he could. Keith David’s character is short. Not only does he survive, he gets pulled off the line early. As he was heading to the helicopter I was expecting a shot to ring out. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411/74 "2012-03-14T02:30:55Z")
Just watched “Drive” and thought of this thread when… SPOILER SPACE a character, who you know is going to participate in a pawn shop robbery the next day, makes a toast, “To my family, to my new friend and to the future.” You know the rest. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411/75 "2012-03-14T02:56:37Z")
If you’re a/the bad guy and you just disarmed the good guy or broken his weapon, prepare to meet your maker. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_A.Robrin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sam_a.robrin/32/14497_2.png) [@Sam\_A.Robrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_A.Robrin)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411/76 "2012-03-14T04:50:41Z")
And of course, in the comics, if you found out that Superman was Clark Kent, you probably weren’t going to last much past “CONTINUED NEXT ISSUE!” ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411/77 "2012-03-14T05:28:34Z")
> [@Sam\_A.Robrin](#): > > And of course, in the comics, if you found out that Superman was Clark Kent, you probably weren’t going to last much past “CONTINUED NEXT ISSUE!” I can’t think of a single example of that… Ignoring other superheroes, characters who’ve known in various continuities… The Kents Jimmy Lois Lana Pete Chloe All of whom got by just fine. ---
**Author:** ![audit1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@audit1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audit1)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411/78 "2012-03-14T08:59:17Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > I can’t think of a single example of that… > > Ignoring other superheroes, characters who’ve known in various continuities… > > The Kents > Jimmy > Lois > Lana > Pete > Chloe > > All of whom got by just fine. Famous example Action Comics 309. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411/79 "2012-03-14T11:29:16Z")
Good one. Of course, he never made it to the issue hitting the stands… ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411/80 "2012-03-14T12:36:07Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > cue all the snobs chiming in about how they didn’t see _Transformers_ someone just admitted to seeing red tails, i think you’re fine. how about being the fat guy in the dinosaur theme park movie? or the black guy in the dinosaur theme park movie? or the australian guy in the dinosaur theme park movie. or the… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-this-cliche-how-you-know-a-character-is-doomed/615411.md?page=5)