Tropes in That Make You Go "Huh?"

[Kann]

Surprise romance. When we didn't see any chemistry between two characters then boom. Love confession. It just makes me go ??? when romance it's just a subplot, but if it's supposed to be romance as a main genre I guess it's either bad writing or we don't see the things in a way it's author does. xD

[AHaplessFool]

I know, there will be massive fights that quite literally bust holes in buildings and almost (and sometimes truly) kill students but all that happens is the tired school nurse just fixing them up (if they're alive) and sending them out again? And it's worse when it's not even underground or anything, just MC tries to walk down one (1) hallway, gets beat up twice, goes to class with a ripped up face and bloody nose and the teacher just doesn't even comment.

At my old, massive public middle school, there was a fight. Just the one, between just two students, without that many eye-witnesses. By the end of the day, everyone in the grade knew about it, knew the reasons behind it, the police got involved, and both students faced suspension for I think two weeks. But students in these schools just casually murder/beat to a bleeding pulp other students within the campus and no one bats an eye?

[Puck]

My story is about an unsucessful magician who lives in a dressing room because he has a phobia against ducks and being watched by them,
together with 4 more phobias that he exchanged against magic skills. He lives in the dressing room since 30 years.
The story is told by a dog who hates to go outside and can talk.
Nothing makes me ???

[O-1-D]

I’d say the trope that rubs be the wrong way the most is when the film tries to have a “strong independent female” where she’s skilled, smart and by all accounts is more capable and stronger than the male lead. Good stuff- but then the guy turns out to just be “gifted” or is the “chosen one” so is still better than her and she has to learn to accept that this guy with no training or prior experience is better than her.

So by having a female lead like this in a “chosen one” story they shoot themselves in the foot cause instead of “women can be just as strong/empowered as men” it reads more like “a man is always going to be better even with some bs like being a chosen one”

That grinds my gears oh so much.

HTTYD did this well as Hiccup actually WORKED to get better through learning and bonding with dragons. This is more like the film adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief; Annabeth is their strongest fighter but because Percy has Poseidon DNA he beats her anyway with no experience or skill.

Yeah- I don’t like that at all.

[SleepingPoppy]

This one drives me nuts. I suppose the "huh??" for me is that the people making these stories obviously noticed people wanted stronger and more interesting female leads, but instead of making some good female characters they decided to just kind of add a wrapping paper of Strong Independent Woman, but said woman still does absolutely nothing in the story!

The story that really drove this home for me was Jack the Giant Slayer. The story went out of its way to introduce the princess the exact same way as Jack. Same desire for adventure and such. And then when they're older, she's even framed as the proactive one, actually getting out there and wanting to find and adventure, while Jack's been sitting on his thumb. It's just so weird to me that the writers would take the time to dress her up like she's going to be so important an involved, only to have her be completely useless.

[cherrystark]

Yes!!! I've seen this one and it irks me. It also bugs me when the untrained "Chosen One" gets the endearing personality and the female lead gets nothing, but falls hopelessly for the "Chosen One".

In these stories, it also bugs me when he won't turn something over to her, when she's infinitely more qualified. Even Fred Jones was "man-enough" to realize Daphne was better suited to take lead on some cases and hands the reigns over to her.

[O-1-D]

Not to mention that a lot of peoples idea of “strong female” means “emotionless, stoic and bitchy” like NO!

I’m writing a beauty and the beast style story but with the genders swapped and there is no way imma fall into that trap! Lol

[O-1-D]

Exactly this! Why build her up if she’s going to be the second banana???

“Women have equal representation” my ass!

[SleepingPoppy]

Yup! I watch when this happens, wondering if the people who made this think I'm too stupid to notice the Strong Independent Woman doesn't do anything. Do they think they're tricking us? Why would they rather trick us then, you know, let the character do something?

Even with the Jack example. I think there's a scene towards the end where they have to hide in the castle. The castle the princess grew up in and should know back to front- who finds them a hiding place? Jack, obviously. It would have been such an easy thing to give to her in the script.

But yeah, it drives me bonkers. XD

[cherrystark]

@O-1-D @SleepingPoppy I have SUCH strong feelings about the "strong female character" trope, it's not even funny. I can go and on about it. All of my stories have female leads but they all have different personalities.

I have noticed the "emotionless, stoic, and bitchy" thing too, especially in the werewolf stories that are popular right now. And somehow those traits translate into "kind and gentle leader"??? What? I wrote a twist on the werewolf trend where instead of the female MC being stoic and bitter, she's a grad student with tons of debt and enjoys playing in the dirt (she's an anthropology major) and playing with kids. Her job in the pack is nursery worker and gardener.

[SleepingPoppy]

I wrote a twist on the werewolf trend where instead of the female MC being stoic and bitter, she's a grad student with tons of debt and enjoys playing in the dirt (she's an anthropology major)

I'm not as familiar with the trends in werewolf fiction, but I totally love the sound of this character. =)

[O-1-D]

@cherrystark I love the sound of that! The beast in my gender-bent BatB story is a bit of both. She's stoic and a bit cold to begin with but, well she's called out on for being that way and over time she's shown to be very gentle and caring, just under a gruff exterior. Ngl your character sounds like a cinnamon roll and love her already haha

@SleepingPoppy Ikr? It's like they can just slap Strong Independant Woman on a character and leave it at that. We're not blind we can see past that! I'm working on a screenplay which I hope actively defies the "sTrOnG iNdEpEnDaNt WoMaN" nonsense. If you want us to think they're strong, actually make them strong!

edit: also gotta love it when the "strong independent female" STILL NEEDS TO BE RESCUED BY THE MAN!

[cherrystark]

Thanks! It's told in diary format so there are huge gaps in the story, but what diary doesn't . The couple still has their culture clashes but they communicate (which is rare too in stories). My favorite part to write was the fact she loves training days because they were a chance to check out her hubby shirtless.

*I don't mind if "strong female characters" need to be rescued by a man, IF she still has an active roll in the story and just needs some help. IRL, we've all find ourselves in "hot water" and need a rescue from time to time.

[O-1-D]

I don't mind it either, but it's more like when she is religated to being the "damsel-in-distress" especially when the film/book/whatever had done everything to show her being "strong" when she wouldn't be.

One thing that happens in my fantasy is that the beast saves the beauty from being killed by a monster by attacking it, but she is then in trouble from being mauled so he in turn saves her back. One saves the other and it still sways towards the female had saved the male's life- even though she ended up needing his help at the end of it

[Wocalich]

I guess for me it's love triangles. What need is there to hurt someone to strengthen the relationship between the main characters?

[Jenny-Toons]

What need is there to hurt someone to strengthen the relationship between the main characters?

Especially when the author makes it obvious (or at least it's obvious to the readers) that the second lead is a way better choice than the main lead.

That always makes me go "huh??" Often, the second love interest is a childhood friend that's known MC for a minute, has treated them kindly, has kinda been the one to encourage them to break out of their mold, and sincerely cares when they're hurt. But we're supposed to expect that the romance between MC and the asshole main romantic partner is better?

Like, I get fantasies and stuff, but there's only so much I can take before I'm ripped outta it XD

[cherrystark]

Often, the second love interest is a childhood friend that's known MC for a minute, has treated them kindly, has kinda been the one to encourage them to break out of their mold, and sincerely cares when they're hurt. But we're supposed to expect that the romance between MC and the asshole main romantic partner is better?

It baffles me in love triangle stories when the writer puts drama over the need to explore both relationships. Like the seemingly "nicer" love interest becomes secretly entitled to the MC's affections and will try and force a relationship on them, often against the MC's wishes (ex. jealous childhood BFF) or the "jerk" love interest never gets a full redemption arc and the HEA is rushed (ex. kidnapping and hospital bed love confessions).

[Kiweevil]

(post withdrawn by author, will be automatically deleted in 24 hours unless flagged)

[DiegoPalacios]

What makes me go "Huh?" is mostly the "idiot ball".....when a character makes a dumb mistake that is out of character for them just so the conflict can keep going on.

[impossiblesoul]

It's always weird when a character is ultra mega powerful while no history is given to substantiate it. When a friend tried to get me into Sword Art Online, I just couldn't understand why this random nerd had a harem of girls chasing after his godlike presence when very little about his past was revealed to explain why he's more competent than all the other characters. Powerful qualities don't just pop out of thin air. In a broader sense you could call this the overpowered trope, but overpowered doesn't bother me so much as unexplained power.