My Most Beloved Fictional Tropes (and Why They're Amazing)

January 31, 2021

My Most Beloved Fictional Tropes (and Why They're Amazing)

Happy End of January, all! I'm not about to reiterate the tired old "wow, I can't believe that time keeps rushing forward at a terrifying rate and is marked by every time I post on here." Oh wait. I just did. Whoops!

That aside, today on the blog I'm bringing up some of my absolutely to-die-for fictional tropes, and making sure y'all know just what exactly makes them so amazing. Check them out below and see if any of your favorites are on here!

So, in no particular order...

CHOSEN ONES

Yes, yes, this is a raging cliché. But it's my cliché. My absolute most favorite cliché of all time. From Anakin Skywalker, Harry Potter, and Frodo Baggins, some of the most pivotal and influential characters of the last hundred years have been chosen ones. And let's be honest, guys, there is absolutely something to be said for this trope, that's how it became a cliché in the first place. Who doesn't love watching the unprepared protagonist thrust into a life-changing journey to fulfill a prophecy, defeat a villain, or save the world? The angst, the adrenaline, the humanity!

SMALL CHILD IS ACTUALLY THE MOST POWERFUL CHARACTER

This one, guys. This one. From Stranger Things' Eleven to Avatar: The Last Airbender's Aang, the fictional world is full of these child prodigies and mini-badasses. I relate to this one on a feminist sort of level, as being a small female I understand how it feels to be looked down upon by those bigger and stronger, and can only imagine the satisfaction in being able to prove yourself a formidable foe. Who among us can't relate to this trope in some way? It's a common twist on "the underdog," which is such a significant trope because of how it transcends past cultural barriers and individuals to affect almost every one of us.

FOUND FAMILIES

Typically beloved by all, there are few things as heart-warming as characters shunned by society, by families, by the world who find family with each other. Often a slow process that sneaks up on readers and characters alike, giving us all the feels and turning our hearts to mush.

I think of the gang in Aurora Rising as a perfect example of this trope!

SUDDEN BETRAYAL BY BELOVED FRIEND WHO SAVES THE DAY AT THE LAST MINUTE

This one always sends me for a loop. It's always a rollercoaster of emotions as a character you thought was good and solid ends up betraying the hero the in the worst way possible at the critical moment, only to have a change of heart and save the day just at the last second. This is often accompanied with dramatic death, so neither you nor the characters quite get the chance to process your emotions about it all until it's far too late. Boromir is a great example of this, one of the finest and most heart-rending instances in fiction.

CHARACTERS REUNITING WITH SOMEONE THEY THOUGHT WAS DEAD

I will never cease to become deceased by this trope. When the believed-dead-character comes limping in through the smoke, catching the living character's eye, and ALL the emotions pass across their face. Shock, hope, the resurgence of grief, the explosion of joy, and they run into each other's arms. That is just *chef's kiss*

Bonus points if it's a return like Bucky Barnes in The Winter Solider, when the character has returned, but at what cost?

USUALLY COMPOSED CHARACTER LOSING THEIR COMPOSURE

You know the one, the silent, stoic guy or the calm, rational gal, the one in the group who is unflappable, who's been carrying everyone's emotional baggage since day one, comes to the very end of their long, long rope and just can't take it anymore. They explode. They shout, they cry, they swear, they throw stuff, and we as an audience along with the other characters are totally sidelined by this sudden, violent side of them. This is a trope that gets my blood pumping, and may even make your heart skip a beat when it happens.

HERO HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO SIDE WITH A MINOR ANTAGONIST

The frustration and snark that comes from this trope is truly devastating. One cannot help but enjoy being irritated by the presence of a minor antagonist (who totally deserves to get beaten within an inch of their lives) and the fact that they and the hero are now locked into an uneasy alliance to achieve both their ends. This usually doesn't end well for one or the other, as tensions become too high and maybe the antagonist is only going along with the hero in order to do them dirty again later. Sometimes though, it actually works out for the best. Like in The Mandalorian s2 (I won't say more for fear of spoilers).

ONE ROMANTIC PARTNER/FRIEND MUST FIGHT THE OTHER DUE TO MIND CONTROL, TIME TRAVEL, ETC

This one is always a major 'oof', right in the heartstrings. See Elastigirl vs. Mr. Incredible in The Incredibles 2. Or Bucky vs. Steve in The Winter Solider. When the person in their right mind is doing their best to defend themselves without hurting the other...ugh. What a cataclysmically emotional set of events!

TENDER BROMANCE

This one is not often seen in fiction, because men need to be tough and manly and whatever, but definitely the finest example of tender relationships between male friends is seen through The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Tolkien knew his stuff when it came to solidifying and really making this a thing in the first place. The relationships between Aragorn and Legolas, Legolas and Gimli, Boromir and Aragorn, the Hobbits and Boromir, Merry and Pippin, and of course, Sam and Frodo, are unparalleled. I can only imagine the kind of friendship that these titanium figures of literature possessed.