Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Break Down TV Shows' Most Overused Tropes That Really Need To Be Retired

People Break Down TV Shows' Most Overused Tropes That Really Need To Be Retired
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Make us preferred on Google

Some of the greatest moments of our lives are spent glued to the television. Great shows have created and broken relationships, given us reasons to laugh and cry, and made life more bearable. So of course we follow all of our stories like sycophants. Thus believing we know how to best tell the stories, and which ways of creating storylines are overdone.

Yes, there are many story dictated twists and turns and character developments we're exhausted at seeing. How many more long-lost siblings will Meredith Grey find?

But what do we really know? If we think we can do better, then do so. Write it, submit and see what happens. Out of curiosity let's see what issues people are clamouring about the most.

Redditor u/Dangerous-Staff9172 wanted to trade notes on what we're tired of seeing when watching our favorite tv shows, by asking:

What TV show trope needs to retire?

I've been watching daytime soap operas since I was a child. And I have seen anything and everything... twice. If the characters and the stories are woven just right you don't mind the repetition. I can of course do with a little less amnesia.

Just do it Already!

Angry Season 9 GIF by FriendsGiphy

"Writing in a relationship crisis for the main couple just to keep things interesting. Or keeping apart two people who would have done it 6 seasons ago if it were real life, because the writers are milking the romantic tension to death."

- PointsOutYourGrammar

Oh Boo-Whoo

"The always present sad story for every freaking person on talent shows."

- broadsharp

"Same with Shark Tank. "Sorry, (whimper) it's just, the financial crisis hit us so hard in '08 (sobbing) and we sunk everything we had into this solar powered flashlight." Someone will usually make an offer, while Keven says it's a crap idea."

- NikonuserNW

"My wife and I were watching Chopped and a woman told one of those stories and said she'd give the prize money to some kind of medical research. A little bit later, they asked another contestant what he would do with the money and he said he'd go out and buy a bada** car. I couldn't stop laughing. He's my favorite all time talent show contestant."

- puckit

SHOOT!

"When someone in a horror movie picks up a weapon, uses it on whatever's chasing them AND THEN FREAKING DROPS IT! Like, you can still use that weapon! C'mon!"

- Oldforestwalker

"Or they knock down the assailant but don't take their weapon while they're stunned! I hate this so much. Like, dude has a gun. Why are you running away, just take it and shoot him or at least throw it in the river or something Jesus Lord."

- ItsGotToMakeSense

"Wait, I can explain!"

"The misunderstanding, which usually involves someone saying "Wait, I can explain!" before the other person storms off."

- TheRogueToad

"Entire storylines built off of misunderstandings or miscommunications are just boring and frustrating. Okay I will agree, there are exceptions to this, for comedy it can work well if done properly, like when Holly meets Kevin in 'The Office' and thinks he has special needs. Hilarious."

- LadyGisela

I'll Be Back...

funeral im back GIFGiphy

"If some dude dies off screen, ie in an explosion, they almost always end up returning. Only way characters did is if they're outright shot in the face."

- Nathan_Gio

Returning from the dead is the best. I love when characters rise again. I can do without the brain-dead behavior in horror films. Half of those people got what they deserved. I

Meal Companion

morgue GIF by South Park Giphy

"Morgue worker/Coroner tech/Autopsy tech eating lunch right next to a body. We don't do that."

- Last_Sundae_6894

Wasted Time

"When characters have every reason to just talk or say a very obvious thing out loud but wont, in order to artificially inflate and extend a conflict. And when characters get extra dumb suddenly to create pointless conflict to pad episodes."

- Illidariislove

"A similar trope, or maybe a sub-category of that trope, is when Character A has something very important to say, but Character B keeps interrupting them and talking over them, and Character A doesn't get to say what they needed to say, which leads to disastrous consequences."

"In real life, if someone won't let you talk, but what you have to say is extremely important, you don't just give up, you YELL! I am very shy and introverted and I hate interrupting people, but even I would just yell in that scenario!"

- woozapooza

Realistic...

"People with average jobs living in swanky, expensive places. Oh, this 4000sf urban industrial downtown loft? It's just where my garage band practices."

- maxrpms

"There's a video about Malcom in the Middle being a notable exception of this. Most shows portray stated middle income families living far beyond their means because it works better for advertising; if the story is about not having enough to replace a broken car, the Dodge Ram commercial feels inappropriate."

- enimaraC

Cue laugh track...

  • "The designated 'smart' character, except the writers don't know how to write smart people, so they just make every other character (even ones who've been previously established as quite intelligent) become really stupid whenever they're around."
  • Alternatively, the 'smart' person is smart because they use unnecessarily complicated language and scientific terms for everyday things, ie. "I recommend agitating the compound in a homogenous solution of dihydrogen monoxide and sodium chloride!" "HUH?! What's he saying?" "He says stir it in salt water." [cue laugh track]."
  • A character stepping into the room just in time to finish another person's sentence or otherwise deliver a dramatic line. It's such a tv staple that we've all come to accept it, but when you think about it it's really unnatural, like they've been standing outside the door for the last 10 minutes, waiting for their cue.
  • The big tough guy whose sole purpose is to get thrown around like a rag doll by the latest villain, to show how dangerous they are." - trout_a_la_creme

Pose...

Strike A Pose Whatever GIFGiphy

"Casting glamorous-looking 25-year-olds as 15-year-olds."

"Not only does it take me out of the setting, but it affects teen's self-image and probably also affects how adults see kids. I understand that when portraying certain subject matter, there are a lot less hoops to jump through if you don't cast a minor. But at least cast a babyfaced 21-year-old and don't dress them like they just got off a shoot for Vogue."

- polyhymnias

There really is no excuse to miscast. There are age appropriate actors everywhere... do it right. And in the end, some stories are just gonna loop back, especially if the show keeps continuing. So watch or don't.

Want to "know" more? Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again. Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

A split screen of Jeff Bezos on stage at a panel and Dolly Parton on a red carpet.
Chesnot / Contributor;Getty Imges/ Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Jeff Bezos Called Out For Hypocritical Post Praising Dolly Parton's 'Generosity'—And We're Shaking Our Heads

The world is still in mourning following the death of Dolly Parton this past Tuesday.

In addition to President Trump declaring that flags in the U.S. will fly at half-mast for one week, countless people have taken to social media to pay homage to the beloved singer, actress, and philanthropist.

Keep ReadingShow less
Cameron Brink; Enes Kanter Freedom
@BrickCenter_/X; Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

WNBA Star Bluntly Rips Anti-Trans Former NBA Player Over His Bigoted Antics in Viral Video—And She's Totally Right

WNBA star Cameron Brink has blasted former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, who changed his name after becoming a United States citizen, over his transphobic antics.

Kanter Freedom, a Turkish national who moved to the U.S. to play high school basketball, had an unremarkable NBA career playing for five different teams—twice switching between the Boston Celtics and Portland Trailblazers, for a total of seven NBA team changes in 11 years in the league. He's had no major endorsement deals, claiming he was "blacklisted."

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Dylan Crawford during MS NOW interview
MS NOW

Young MAGA Voter Who Is 'Struggling For My Life' Goes Viral With His NSFW Message For Trump

Dylan Crawford, an Iowa MAGA voter who is struggling with the affordability crisis after graduating from high school, went viral after swearing at President Donald Trump when asked what he would say if he could speak to the president.

The interview comes as the rising cost of living becomes difficult to ignore for the overwhelming majority of Americans. Consumer sentiment fell sharply in August, according to data released earlier this month by the University of Michigan that found that older and lower-income Americans are particularly affected by elevated fuel prices.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Byron Donalds
@AGGancarski/X

GOP Candidate Slammed After Sharing Absurdly Sexist Reason Why Roads Should Be Repaired

Florida Republican Representative Byron Donalds was called out after making a sexist remark at a campaign rally about why women need roads to be fixed.

Donalds is currently campaigning for Florida's governorship. He is President Donald Trump's preferred candidate in Florida and would be the state's first Black governor if elected to succeed the term-limited Ron DeSantis.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pete Davidson attends SNL50: The Homecoming Concert at Radio City Music Hall.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Pete Davidson Was Spotted Wearing Blue Contacts And A Wig While Filming A New Movie—And He Looks Low-Key Terrifying

Pete Davidson put in some blue contacts, threw on a wig, and somehow emerged looking like the guy you absolutely do not want making prolonged eye contact with you on the subway.

It all went down when Davidson was photographed on August 25 in costume for his new movie, Tommy Karate, in which he plays notorious, martial arts-trained Bonanno crime family enforcer Thomas "Tommy Karate" Pitera.

Keep ReadingShow less