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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Lorric on February 09, 2014, 08:53:52 pm

Title: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: Lorric on February 09, 2014, 08:53:52 pm
This would be an unusual one in any form of media, let alone a cartoon. I've been racking my brains and I think it's the first time I've ever seen it done. I would like to know please if anyone has any more examples? Not if it's some no-name character.

If you have any interest in watching Prince Valiant, don't watch, as this is quite a spoiler. Here's the long version, which I definitely recommend. It will take about five minutes of your time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQWvPbKX1oc#t=15m14s

Here's the quicker one, just 2mins:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQWvPbKX1oc#t=18m32s

So, have you ever seen it done elswhere?
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: karajorma on February 09, 2014, 09:22:08 pm
I'm not quite sure what point you're trying to make here.

That said, Legend of Prince Valiant was one of my favourite cartoons from when I was a kid.
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: Lorric on February 09, 2014, 09:32:31 pm
I'm not quite sure what point you're trying to make here.

That said, Legend of Prince Valiant was one of my favourite cartoons from when I was a kid.
Yeah, I watched it growing up too. Only episodes here and there though. I've watched it through on Youtube once maybe 3 years ago, now I'm doing it again with that far improved quality playlist.

The point, which I guess I can talk about openly now that my spoiler warning is in place, is I've seen loads of bad guys surrender, then try a sneak attack and fail. Okay, it still failed, but nearly always the good guy sees it coming. I've seen the bad guy land a blow before, but the good guy shrugs it off and survives it. This is the first time I've ever seen a sneak attack in such a situation actually kill someone.

The first time I saw it (didn't see this one growing up) I was just shocked and amazed more than anything. Just like what, that's not supposed to happen! The second time, I came close to tears (which was a shock in itself.)
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: Nakura on February 09, 2014, 10:56:10 pm
Can't think of any subverted tropes off the top of my head, but TVTropes has a few examples: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SubvertedTrope

I might have had a subverted trope in real life the other day. I just got done taking a shower at my college, and when I looked at my phone to check the time, I saw that I was about to be late to class. As a result, I hastily finished getting dressed and literally started running to the other building, but alas, I had no toast.
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: Lorric on February 09, 2014, 11:00:41 pm
Can't think of any subverted tropes off the top of my head, but TVTropes has a few examples: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SubvertedTrope

I might have had a subverted trope in real life the other day. I just got done taking a shower at my college, and when I looked at my phone to check the time, I saw that I was about to be late to class. As a result, I hastily finished getting dressed and literally started running to the other building, but alas, I had no toast.
Heh. I went there you know, right before posting. I don't know what you'd call this trope though.

You mean you got there on time, but got no food?
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: Nakura on February 09, 2014, 11:03:59 pm
Can't think of any subverted tropes off the top of my head, but TVTropes has a few examples: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SubvertedTrope

I might have had a subverted trope in real life the other day. I just got done taking a shower at my college, and when I looked at my phone to check the time, I saw that I was about to be late to class. As a result, I hastily finished getting dressed and literally started running to the other building, but alas, I had no toast.
Heh. I went there you know, right before posting. I don't know what you'd call this trope though.

You mean you got there on time, but got no food?

TV Tropes is awesome and a complete time-sink

No, I was a couple minutes late. The toast is, well... (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LateForSchool)
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: Lorric on February 09, 2014, 11:06:24 pm
Can't think of any subverted tropes off the top of my head, but TVTropes has a few examples: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SubvertedTrope

I might have had a subverted trope in real life the other day. I just got done taking a shower at my college, and when I looked at my phone to check the time, I saw that I was about to be late to class. As a result, I hastily finished getting dressed and literally started running to the other building, but alas, I had no toast.
Heh. I went there you know, right before posting. I don't know what you'd call this trope though.

You mean you got there on time, but got no food?

TV Tropes is awesome and a complete time-sink

No, I was a couple minutes late. The toast is, well... (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LateForSchool)
Oh yeah, you got that right! I spent hours and hours and hours going through that place when I first found it! :D

Ah, I get you now. So many times you see a character chewing on toast running out of the door! :lol:
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: Flak on February 09, 2014, 11:37:52 pm
Best famous example? Almost the whole thing about Shrek is a subversion of the 'Evil Ogre' in old fairy tales.
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: Lorric on February 09, 2014, 11:39:17 pm
Best famous example? Almost the whole thing about Shrek is a subversion of the 'Evil Ogre' in old fairy tales.
Yes.

I made the thread hoping for examples of my specific trope subversion from Prince Valiant though.
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: Scourge of Ages on February 10, 2014, 02:15:41 am
I think if the bad guy had been dueling with Valiant, he probably would have either seen it coming or else shrugged it off. Rolf is an obvious Sacrificial Lion (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SacrificialLion), at least in hindsight, used to prove that anyone can die (http://anyone can die). At least it seemed that way to me from just watching.

See? Everything is a trope if you try hard enough, even the subverted tropes are tropes themselves.
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: Lorric on February 10, 2014, 10:24:35 am
I think if the bad guy had been dueling with Valiant, he probably would have either seen it coming or else shrugged it off. Rolf is an obvious Sacrificial Lion (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SacrificialLion), at least in hindsight, used to prove that anyone can die (http://anyone can die). At least it seemed that way to me from just watching.

See? Everything is a trope if you try hard enough, even the subverted tropes are tropes themselves.
Yes, I was aware of the "everyone can die" trope, and it accomplished it's goal. They did a great job of building Rolf up, so it was a real shock when he died, and frankly I would have liked to see more of him as one of the series' recurring characters.

It's the manner in which it was done. Obviously, you can't kill Valiant in a show called Prince Valiant. But I've never even seen this done with another character in this fashion. That's what I'm looking for, has it happened to anyone else? The sneak attack always fails in my experience, and I've seen loads of them.

I'm gonna have a look at that Sacrificial Lion one now, though I can probably guess what it is.
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: AdmiralRalwood on February 10, 2014, 10:28:06 am
Obviously, you can't kill Valiant in a show called Prince Valiant.
Sure you can! It would be all the more shocking to the audience, too, especially if you didn't push the Reset Button at the end of the show.
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: Lorric on February 10, 2014, 10:29:20 am
Obviously, you can't kill Valiant in a show called Prince Valiant.
Sure you can! It would be all the more shocking to the audience, too, especially if you didn't push the Reset Button at the end of the show.
Well, you could probably kill him at the end, but how can you have a show called Prince Valiant if he's dead?
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: Grizzly on February 10, 2014, 10:39:28 am
Obviously, you can't kill Valiant in a show called Prince Valiant.
Sure you can! It would be all the more shocking to the audience, too, especially if you didn't push the Reset Button at the end of the show.
Well, you could probably kill him at the end, but how can you have a show called Prince Valiant if he's dead?

Why not? You could have all manner of problems originating from his legacy, or have him make a plan that affects the main characters from beyond the grave.
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: Lorric on February 10, 2014, 10:54:53 am
Alright, let's take this in a new direction.

Has it ever been done?

So we've got two "have you seen it done" questions to answer now. :)
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: AdmiralRalwood on February 10, 2014, 10:58:10 am
Has it ever been done?
Has the main/viewpoint character of a story ever been killed halfway through? Yes. In a story named after that character? Haven't a clue on that one, I'm afraid, but it is possible, and if nobody has done it, somebody should. :P
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: Lorric on February 10, 2014, 11:00:25 am
Has it ever been done?
Has the main/viewpoint character of a story ever been killed halfway through? Yes. In a story named after that character? Haven't a clue on that one, I'm afraid, but it is possible, and if nobody has done it, somebody should. :P
Yes, that is the question. Has the main character been killed with significant running time in the show still to go, in a show named after the character?

EDIT: The full name of the show is Legend of Prince Valiant. Not much of a legend if he dies that early.
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: Ghostavo on February 10, 2014, 11:05:47 am
After a while, the title (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ArtifactTitle) may no longer be relevant to the story.
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: AdmiralRalwood on February 10, 2014, 11:17:46 am
Yes, that is the question. Has the main character been killed with significant running time in the show still to go, in a show named after the character?
Found one. (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Taggart) There are probably more.
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: Lorric on February 10, 2014, 12:26:27 pm
Yes, that is the question. Has the main character been killed with significant running time in the show still to go, in a show named after the character?
Found one. (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Taggart) There are probably more.
Hmmm. I guess Taggart was so well established by then that they could afford to do away with the main character, and the name still held a greater meaning than just that of the main character.

Consider me surprised that someone did it. Even though the actor died, and would surely have been hard to replace.

However, it seems no one can (or wants to) find one for the OP. So I guess it's as rare and shocking an event as I thought it was.

I wonder if a decision was ever made to kill a main character a show was named after in this fashion that was not brought on by an actor/VA being incapable/unwilling to continue the role?
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: Scourge of Ages on February 10, 2014, 03:47:58 pm
Lorric, check out Blake's 7 for more "anyone can die".
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: AdmiralRalwood on February 10, 2014, 07:47:24 pm
Lorric, check out Blake's 7 for more "anyone can die".
Also another show where the titular character wasn't around for the second half of the show, although not because he'd died.
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: Lorric on February 12, 2014, 12:15:03 am
I'm going to drop a link to the Prince Valiant playlist on Youtube. I'd heartily recommend it if anyone wants to try it. Cartoon or not, it's still very watchable as an adult imo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMF5BEPMrJY&list=PLk4EFPdMalIKY-1Iu-hOkdOw9rA_lUTgj
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: karajorma on February 12, 2014, 01:08:05 am
I'll second Lorric's recommendation. It is indeed very high quality for a cartoon.
Title: Re: Unexpected Trope Subversion - any more like this?
Post by: Lorric on February 12, 2014, 12:13:12 pm
I'll second Lorric's recommendation. It is indeed very high quality for a cartoon.
The last few episodes had me on the edge of my seat as much as anything I've ever watched.