Ahhh yes, TVTropes, where you can spend hours and even days reading the pages there.
I have been doing just that, too, for the last few days…but I’ve only read about 50 pages in that time, so recommend to me a favorite or funny page that you know of on that site, if you wish.
What’s your favorite or best trope, in your opinion?
The Colbert Report page is funny all on its own, and links to probably 100s of funny tropes that the show has employed. Of course, it helps if you find the Colbert Report really funny, but you could probably substitute some other show that makes you laugh and see where it takes you.
Indeed, All The Tropes, created in response to the censorship panics, and working from an initial copy of TV Tropes’ database—made before TVT rather abruptly (and a bit suspiciously, IMHO) changed it’s Creative Commons License.
My favorite TV Tropes would be the Holy “Fridge” Trinity, based on the idea of coming home from a movie, opening the refrigerator for a snack, and suddenly making a connection about the movie that you had missed before. Key examples include:
Fridge Brilliance: Many will disagree, but I felt the final scene of The Sopranos was a work of genius, despite hating the ending at first. Fridge Logic: If E.T. could fly at the end of the movie, why didn’t he fly at the start of the movie and save himself?? Fridge Horror: Endor Holocaust
Shame there’s no category for “Radio Sitcoms”, as “Bad to the Last Drop” would be perfect for the exchange from Cabin Pressure: “Nice hot cup of coffee!” “Augh, it’s cold!” “Nice cup of coffee!” “It’s horrible!” “Cup of coffee!” “I’m not even sure it’s coffee.” “…cup?”
I’ve always greatly enjoyed the Useful Notes section, particularly the descriptions (for better AND worse) of every American sports franchise, and also the one which covers all 50 states (The Several States).
I checked out All The Tropes and it is identical to TV Tropes in a lot of ways. Like same examples and specific wording. How were they able to basically copy/paste another website? What’s the backstory there?
Uh, and my personal favorite trope, at least at the moment: Reed Richards is Useless. “The observation that in some genres, characters can have fantastic technology far beyond our own, yet this technology only gets used to solve equally fantastic problems.” For example…comic book characters who could easily use their science or abilities to solve real-world problems, but use them only for finding better ways to punch people in costumes.
A trope I find both annoying, infuriating, fascinating to ponder, and sardonically hilarious. That, and it’s sister trope, Cut Lex Luthor a Check.