# Obvious things about a creative work you realize after the millionth time (OPEN SPOILERS POSSIBLE) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117 "2009-07-24T13:20:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 355
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2026, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7087 "2026-05-25T00:01:02Z")
I just watched The Silence Of The Lambs for the millionth time. I don’t think I ever noticed that in this scene, Buffalo Bill is wearing someone else’s scalp. I can’t find a good picture, but you can see the edge of it over his left eye. [![](https://www.out.com/media-library/actor-ted-levine-as-buffalo-bill-in-the-silence-of-the-lambs.png?id=64951690&width=1245&height=700&quality=65&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C1) ](https://www.out.com/media-library/actor-ted-levine-as-buffalo-bill-in-the-silence-of-the-lambs.png?id=64951690&width=1245&height=700&quality=65&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C1) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2026, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7088 "2026-05-25T17:43:00Z")
Two-click rule, please! (I’m kidding…but, ewww…) ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7089 "2026-06-04T19:36:14Z")
I’ve seen Back to the Future trilogy more times than I can count. But never noticed that in Back to the Future 3, 1955 Doc and Marty go to an abandoned mine to find the DeLorean left there in the 1800’s by 1985 Doc. Doc sees his initials “ELB” followed by an arrow sign. I just realized that this was a subtle nod to “Journey to the Center of the Earth.” It’s been a long time since I read the book but I distinctly remember that being done by a character in the 1959 movie adaptation. Coincidence? Not with all the Jules Verne references in that movie. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7090 "2026-06-04T20:29:05Z")
I’m pretty sure Doc actually says something like “My initials! Just like in _Journey to the Centre of the Earth_!”. It’s what informs the audience that Doc is a fan of Jules Verne. So yeh that really was obvious! ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7091 "2026-06-04T20:34:41Z")
Well, to be fair. I was watching a reaction video and maybe that line didn’t make it in. Maybe someone will weigh in definitively. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7092 "2026-06-04T20:41:32Z")
In _House of the Dragon_, the scene in Season 1 Episode 3 where Daemon pretends to surrender to the Crabfeeder to draw him out of his cave that was actually a rather villainous act. I’m to understand that, in war pretending to surrender, as a feint is considered duplicitious and dishonorable. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7093 "2026-06-04T20:46:40Z")
Here you go [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TjBGLJOInGA/hqdefault.jpg "Back to the future 3 digging out the delorean / cave scene") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjBGLJOInGA) Doc refers to his love of JV just before, but yeh I did remember the initials bit correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7094 "2026-06-04T21:04:44Z")
I’ve been watching clips of 3rd Rock on youtube for the past few days. In one clip, Harry was using a drinking fountain by putting the entire thing in his mouth. That was about 10 years before Andy did it on Parks and Rec [https://i.makeagif.com/media/6-20-2017/\_A3jAM.mp4](https://i.makeagif.com/media/6-20-2017/_A3jAM.mp4) Also, maybe I noticed this the last time I watched it, but I recently rewatched Tootsie and noticed a Gadsden flag in their apartment. [![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0668/7450/7431/files/tootsie_dontplayhardtoget_FC_470x264_021020160443-2638391376_480x480.jpg?v=1731422834) ](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0668/7450/7431/files/tootsie_dontplayhardtoget_FC_470x264_021020160443-2638391376_480x480.jpg?v=1731422834) Interestingly, while trying to find that picture, I found a picture of one on Ron Swanson’s desk, but that one makes sense. For those that don’t watch, Ron is a hardcore Libertarian. [![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0668/7450/7431/files/Ron-Dont-Tread-on-Me-Flag_copy_600x600.jpg?v=1731424769) ](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0668/7450/7431/files/Ron-Dont-Tread-on-Me-Flag_copy_600x600.jpg?v=1731424769) ---
**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:** [June 4, 2026, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7095 "2026-06-04T21:14:07Z")
There’s even a specific term for false surrender: perfidy. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7096 "2026-06-04T21:17:55Z")
I’ve seen **Star Trek** [TOS] _Devil in the Dark_ a bazillion times and never noticed the station manager (at the end when talking to Kirk) call the baby Horta “the little devils.” ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7097 "2026-06-05T00:49:08Z")
OK I was wrong about this one. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7098 "2026-06-05T05:11:12Z")
Sorry, hope I didn’t come across as an arse 🙂 . That line was stuck in my head for some reason! ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2026, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7099 "2026-06-06T22:45:11Z")
I just had my own realization about Back to the Future III – there was no reason they had to resort to that convoluted train hijacking scheme. There were oil refineries in California in 1885. They would have been mostly producing kerosene at the time, but gasoline was produced as part of the refining process, it was just considered a waste product and burned off. But surely Doc Brown could have gone to a refinery and asked them to save him some, you know, for his science experiments. Or, he could have just used kerosene which was readily available. It wouldn’t have been good for the engine, but the DeLorean likely could have run on kerosene just long enough to get up to 88 mph. Or he could have mixed grain alcohol with the kerosene as an octane booster, which would have worked even better. But of course none of those options makes for a good story. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2026, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7100 "2026-06-07T02:58:54Z")
He probably would have pursued some of those options if they hadn’t blown out the manifold during their first attempt using alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2026, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7101 "2026-06-07T19:46:24Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > I’m pretty sure Doc actually says something like “My initials! Just like in _Journey to the Centre of the Earth_!” In my dungeons, the players often see the enigmatic initials AS (more runic tho) on passages leading down. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2026, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7102 "2026-06-07T22:33:16Z")
_steals the idea in time-honored DM fashion_ ---
**Author:** ![EnolaStraight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7103 "2026-06-08T00:44:26Z")
I believe the artist…Hokusai…may be the first artist to use fractal geometry in this creation. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7104 "2026-06-08T00:47:35Z")
I mean, he did use fractals… but that was because he was painting nature, and nature contains fractals. He wasn’t the first. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2026, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7105 "2026-06-17T00:12:50Z")
In _Die Hard 2_, Colonel Stuart demands that the airport provide him a 747 cargo conversion for him and his men to make their escape. Why cargo? It’s not like they were carrying anything big. Any 747 would have worked just as well. I suppose within the movie it could be explained that he knew there would be only one, and in a remote hangar. That would give Major Grant’s team the chance to join Stuart and leave with them before anyone noticed. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2026, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7106 "2026-06-17T16:18:16Z")
I didn’t notice until someone pointed it out to me that the character Morn in _Star Trek: DS9_ is a tribute to Norm from _Cheers_. He’s always in Quark’s bar sitting on the same barstool, and “Morn” is an anagram of “Norm”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117.md?page=354) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117.md?page=356)