# TV Show Plot Cliches You Hate **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 9, 2010, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689 "2010-08-09T09:21:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689/41 "2010-08-09T17:41:50Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > > [@madmonk28](#): > > > > Any seen where they disarm a bomb while the clock ticks down. This is a scene that is supposed to be dramatic, but we all know they will succeed (unless it is a guest star) with 001 left on the clock. > > I thought **Galaxy Quest** lampshaded that nicely. I agree. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689/42 "2010-08-09T17:47:53Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Any seen where they disarm a bomb while the clock ticks down. This is a scene that is supposed to be dramatic, but we all know they will succeed (unless it is a guest star) with 001 left on the clock. Except in _Goldfinger_. Otherwise, yes, very lame. Particularly if someone has to call a bomb tech by phone and ask which wire to cut. I don’t know if anyone has tried that one with a straight face in ages. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689/43 "2010-08-09T17:51:31Z")
It’s the very beginning of the episode, but the main character is already in the midst of a predicament. Characters we’ve never seen before are discussing events we didn’t see happen. What the hell? Did I set the Tivo wrong? Nope. There’s a sudden freeze frame and a caption reading “Two Days Earlier,” and we then get to see what leads up to the predicament. That opening scene will come around again three-quarters into the episode or so, with no real reason why we already saw it before. Non-linear storytelling like this can be effective if done well, but usually it’s just a sign of lazy writing, when they can’t come up with an interesting way to begin the story. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689/44 "2010-08-09T17:51:46Z")
“NO! There’s no WAY you’re going to get me to \ so FORGET IT!” ::quick cut to the person doing exactly that, with laugh track:: ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689/45 "2010-08-09T17:54:25Z")
Kirk, Scotty, Bones, Spock and Ensign Leibowitz beam down to a planet… ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689/46 "2010-08-09T17:57:03Z")
A version of the twin thing: Prince and the Pauper episodes in which unrelated lookalikes trade places. ---
**Author:** ![Skott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Skott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skott)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689/47 "2010-08-09T18:02:23Z")
Shapeshifters. I can’t stand shapeshifters. And it seems like every single sci-fi or fantasy show has to have at least one. The main part that’s usually annoying is that the audience knows that the evil shapeshifter has infiltrated the good guys and the writers attempt to string it out as long as possible. Then there’s the inevitable “Which one is the real one?” or “I know you’re not X because although you were able to copy them in every possible detail, you left out…” Ironically, among my favorite shows are Fullmetal Alchemist and Lost, although Lost dealt with the shapeshifting satisfactorily (at least for me) since the Smoke Monster could only take the form of someone who was dead, and quite possibly someone he had to have actually had physical contact with I decided not to watch Battlestar Galactica because they introduced Cylons disguised as humans in the mini-series and I really didn’t want to have to deal with “Spot the hidden cylon” for the rest of the show. I later saw an episode of Robot Chicken that confirmed my fears. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689/48 "2010-08-09T18:03:06Z")
“Death solves the romantic triangle.” This may only be on _Desperate Housewives_, but I get sick of seeing ot over and over again - person has two lovers (one likely married to), has reasons can’t dump one and stay with other, suddenly a disaster kills one, voila, now free. I guess George’s finacee’s death on _Seinfeld_ is a similar version of this just without another woman involved, just George’s not really wanting to marry her anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689/49 "2010-08-09T18:05:20Z")
> [@Skott](#): > > I decided not to watch Battlestar Galactica because they introduced Cylons disguised as humans in the mini-series and I really didn’t want to have to deal with “Spot the hidden cylon” for the rest of the show. I later saw an episode of Robot Chicken that confirmed my fears. It really became one of the best character development bits in the series. Seeing what happened to those who found out they were not what they thought they were, and their differing reactions. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689/50 "2010-08-09T18:13:26Z")
The wedding episode where everything possible goes wrong with the wedding. Bride and/or groom don’t show up on time, the church burned down, the reception has no food and/or music, etc…and 9 times out of 10 someone will fall face-first into the wedding cake. Why, sitcom writers, WHY?! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689/51 "2010-08-09T18:17:56Z")
Saying the wrong person’s name during sex. Who calls roll during hanky-panky, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689/52 "2010-08-09T18:29:15Z")
The crew loses all control of the Enterprise D and has to solve some mystery. That was the least reliable ship in Star Fleet history. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689/53 "2010-08-09T19:55:12Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > > [@madmonk28](#): > > > > Any seen where they disarm a bomb while the clock ticks down. This is a scene that is supposed to be dramatic, but we all know they will succeed (unless it is a guest star) with 001 left on the clock. > > I thought **Galaxy Quest** lampshaded that nicely. That is one of my favorite scenes in the movie. That and when Guy yelled, “did any of you even watch the show?” ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689/54 "2010-08-09T20:11:27Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Worse than a man and woman who hate each other but are forced to work together: man and woman realize despite all that squabbling that they are madly in love. (Hey, I have worked with some major league assholes and never ONCE did I feel any sexual tension or fall in love.) That’s just because you’ve never met the right asshole… ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689/55 "2010-08-09T20:29:43Z")
Mine is similar to an earlier poster’s, where someone is trying to tell someone else something, and they just keep won’t listen, and then get po’ed when they find out. I always want to say, “He tried to tell you, you bitch!” Oh, and I hate uselessly screaming women, period. I hate uselessly screaming little girls, too. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689/56 "2010-08-09T20:49:22Z")
David Caruso 😃 ---
**Author:** ![El\_Nene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/da6949/32.png) [@El\_Nene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Nene)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689/57 "2010-08-09T21:16:09Z")
The one’s where the show’s main character is depicted as on the verge of being killed. I don’t care how dire the situation is, I will never believe that Jack Bauer\* is going to die, Dexter is no going to get caught until the last season, McGyver will find a way to rig something up. It’s even worse in movies. I strongly doubt 007 is going to meet his maker in any Bond movie. \*Disclaimer - I don’t know if this actually happened in 24. I never watched it but it seems like the type of show where the situation would come up. I couldn’t think of any others off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![FrigidLizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3bc359/32.png) [@FrigidLizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrigidLizard)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689/58 "2010-08-09T21:18:26Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Any show that starts with someone walking in on the aftermath of some event, and then all the other characters tell their own self-aggrandizing versions of what happened. Seconded. This can sometimes work in a comedy, especially when it presents one or more character’s viewpoint as wildly unrealistic. Typically, though, it come across more like a writing workshop excercise than as an interesting story. Also, I hate the setup when a character eats something questionable/exposes himself to influenza right before a big event. You just know he’s gonna barf all over the cake. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689/59 "2010-08-09T21:20:41Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > …4. Resolved sexual tension. (Why did you have to marry Jeannie?!?)… The USAF was getting really suspicious as to why Maj. Nelson was still unmarried at his age, didn’t even have a steady girl, and it seemed like his closest relationship was with Maj. Healy? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![heathen\_earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/13edae/32.png) [@heathen\_earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heathen_earthling)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689/60 "2010-08-09T21:26:22Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > Herb Powell never appeared again because he became rich so he was too good to talk to the Simpsons anymore He was rich before he met the Simpsons, then became poor because of Homer, then became rich again, forgave Homer, and disappeared from the series. Maybe he’s just not taking any more chances with them. Homer also has a British half-sister who was only in one episode. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-plot-cliches-you-hate/549689.md?page=4)