Television Tropes and Idioms

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Merriam-Webster gives a definition of "trope" as a "figure of speech." In storytelling, a trope is just that — a conceptual figure of speech, a storytelling shorthand for a concept that the audience will recognize and understand instantly.

Above all, a trope is a convention. It can be a plot trick, a setup, a narrative structure, a character type, a linguistic idiom... you know it when you see it. Tropes are not inherently disruptive to a story; however, when the trope itself becomes intrusive, distracting the viewer rather than serving as shorthand, it has become a cliché.
- Television Tropes and Idioms

All Up To You

The lead has been captured by the bad guys and imprisoned, drugged or otherwise immobilized. The Sidekick and/or Plucky Comic Relief are forced to step up, apply what they learned from their hero, and pull his hiney out of the fire. - All Up To You

  • Hercules is busy being crushed by Ares, so it's up to Jason and Iolaus to return Zeus's Chalice to Hera's Cave to put Zeus's protection order on Hercules back into effect. - (ep 1.3)

And Now You Must Marry Me

The villain's Evil Plan isn't just to take over the world, or to kill the hero. His goal is far more personal and sinister – he's going to force the heroine to marry him. - And Now You Must Marry Me

April Fools' Plot

Some works will have plots based on April Fool's Day, much like the Christmas Episode. Plots will revolve around character pranking each other. It might be just a bunch of harmless fun. However, often as not, what was intended as a harmless prank might spiral out of control and create real problems. If the show as a resident Jerkass or Bully, that character might use this celebration to be a douchebag to everyone around them and simply yell "April Fools!" to be immediately immune from any form of criticism. They use the freedom of the day to be abusive towards others by pulling pranks and get away with it scot free! If that is the case, the episode will probably end with the jerk getting his comeuppance ending with "April Fools!" being uttered by the former victim as he or she pulls a prank on the prankster. - April Fools' Plot

Attack of the Town Festival

A common plot in Attack of the Killer Whatever movies. The town that is under attack happens to be holding a festival. Generally this is accompanied by an official that refuses to cancel the town festival for economic reasons. This in turn puts the public at risk and the hero of the story now has a whole town to protect from the fearsome people-eating whatever. Bonus points if the festival in question features some theme, object or commodity (besides potential victims) which would naturally attract the Killer Whatever. - Attack of the Town Festival

A Death in the Limelight

Briefly, an episode or issue that suddenly focuses on a character specifically because they're going to die at the end (or fairly close to the end). Usually this is a relatively minor recurring character, or someone who technically is in the main cast but never had a Backstory or much in the way of characterization. - A Death in the Limelight

Crossing the Desert

On his neverending quest to find the MacGuffin, Hero Bob must cross a desert wasteland. Expect there to be scorpions, cacti, a few Ribcage Ridges, and maybe even a Sand Worm or two. For whatever reason, rather than travel during the night, Bob will nearly always travel starting at high noon, though this can be justified by the planet having multiple suns, or the desert having some kind of curse, what have you. - Crossing the Desert

  • Iolaus, Lilith, and Marco cross a desert during the middle of the day on their way back to the Academy, since they are running late and Iolaus claims that it's a shortcut. They are stranded by sand worms. - (1.43 - The Beasts Beneath)

Ghost Story

Ah, the classic - everyone gathered around a campfire telling stories just in order to see who can freak everyone out the most. Usually, in fiction, the stories will be made up on the spot and even have to do with the location the campers are staying in. Whenever this happens, it often turns into a ghost hunt when someone's fevered imagination takes the story a little too seriously. Whether or not the location actually is haunted varies, but even in cases where there's a rational explanation for the strange occurrences the campers experience, it's common to leave the story with a somewhat jokey Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane ending. - Ghost Story

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Parent With New Paramour

A fairly common plot in modern shows and sitcoms that due to divorce, widowhood, or some other situation that results in a single parent dating again and the child trying to accept a parent's new love interest. Generally, this goes one of three ways: (1.) The kid and the new person get along quite well from the start. If Status Quo Is God this person may not stick around for longer than the episode, usually due to a breakup. In this case the kid may be quite upset to see this happen. (2.)The kid is nervous about the person at first (sometimes due to already knowing them or still being sore about their missing parent), but gradually warms up to them. This may go either way in terms of the people staying together. In this situation the kid is generally shown as being irrational and in the way of their parent's happiness. (3.)The kid doesn't like the person at all and never gets used to them. This can become a recurring plot element, and likely to have the line "You're Not My Father!" (or Mother) spoken at least once. If the person is obviously a villain, this can become Guess Who I'm Marrying, with the kid often being the Only Sane Man who can see the evilness of the new paramour. But even then, sometimes the kid puts this aside to let their parent be happy. - Parent With New Paramour

  • Hercules comes home to find out that Alcmene has met someone new, a man named Capaneus. At first Hercules is extremely hostile towards Capaneus to the point where they end up aiming spears at each other's throats. Iolaus talks to Hercules, making him understand just how irrational he's been, and Hercules apologises to Alcmene, saying that he just wants her to be happy. - (1.31 - Home for the Holidays)
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Split Personality Makeover

When dealing with a character that has a Split Personality, there will frequently be a striking visual difference depending on who is "in control." It's not a literal transformation, like the original Jekyll and Hyde; it's still recognizably the same person, but the differences will be visible. This may include anything from subtle stylistic changes (the character's design becomes more hard and angular when an evil or aggressive personality is in control, but softer and more rounded when a kind and good personality is in control) to more physical things like changes in hairstyle and black bags under the eyes. A significant vocal shift is common as well. Some of these changes are perfectly possible to do without physically altering the person's body, like the personalities having hair that's styled differently (or one of them not styling it at all and another styling it neatly) but the same length, or changes in body language and posture, or talking differently without completely changing voice actors, but others are firmly in the realm of Artistic License. These changes may or may not be noticed in-universe; if they are, expect them to treat the change as something intangible. They'll comment "he's like someone completely different now!" or "that's not the person I know!" rather than "hey, when did you get your hair cut?" or "did your voice just drop two octaves?" - Split Personality Makeover

  • Hercules asks Fire From The Heart Of The Earth to change his heart so that he devours life, like Zeus. While under the influence of the fire, Hercules is drastically changed: his body language is smoother, he flirts with every female in sight, the way he speaks has a bit of a slur/twang to it, and he loses his sense of responsibility. It is only when Iolaus's life is in danger that his love for his friends is strong enough to break the hold that the fire has on him. - (1.13 - Forgery)
Kora: "What's the matter with you?! It's like you're somebody else!"
Hercules: "Maybe I just decided to be someone else."
Iolaus: "You're not yourself anymore, Herc."

Temporary Blindness

The hero(ine) of an action/adventure series is blinded at the beginning of the episode. The character is told that the damage will heal, provided he does not do any action/adventure heroic things for the next hour. Since the viewer did not tune in to watch the hero convalesce, the plot goes on. A supporting character helps the hero get used to his condition. Often, the blinded character's other senses will become much more acute. Unfortunately, the villain of the story sometimes discovers the hero's condition and instantly realizes he now has an overwhelming advantage. However, the hero still wins because the villain usually underestimates how well he has adjusted to his situation — in some cases, the temporary disability may actually give the hero a useful advantage. - Temporary Blindness

  • Lilith is injured and loses her sense of sight just long enough for her to learn an important lesson about fighting with her other senses. The villains realize that she's blind and several attack her at once, but she is able to hold her own in a fight by listening to the noises they make while circling her so that she knows when to attack. By the end of the episode she miraculously regains her sight. - (1.08 - Keeping Up With the Jasons}
Cheiron: "You all fought with skill and loyalty and honor, but Lilith discovered that a warrior's strength comes from within."

Lilith: "I did? Well, how?"

Cheiron: "When you saw without your eyes."

The Other Darrin

A new actor is brought on to play the same character as an actor who left, with no explanation for the switch being given to the audience. - The Other Darrin

The Power of Friendship

The villain or Ineffectual Loner mocks the idea of relying on others, insisting that friends make you weak and only fear brings servitude. Then he discovers to his extreme shock and dismay that the hero's friends really do stand up for him, and this really does enable the hero to kick the crap out of the bad guy. The Aesop: Having friends makes you strong, being alone makes you weak. - The Power of Friendship

  • Ares decides that Hercules's weakest point is his "pathetic mortal feelings", and sends Strife to attack Hercules through his best friend, Iolaus. In the end, it is Iolaus shouting Herc's name during Hercules and Strife's final showdown that distracts Strife long enough for Hercules to win the fight. - (1.02 - Between Friends)
Ares: "We'll soften him up where he's weakest: his pathetic mortal feelings."
  • Also in Apollo???






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http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FundraiserCarnival Iolaus dunk tank?



Urban Legends

An Urban Legend is a story told by a person as a true event. It is told as having happened locally, to a "friend of a friend", and is usually altered in the telling. - Urban Legends

Jason: "They thought everything was quiet... and then it came again, that eerie, scratching sound. So the knave and the maiden sped off in the chariot. And when they got home, they found the monster's hook stuck in the side of the chariot!"
Hercules: "Last time I heard that, it was a farm boy and a peasant girl in an oxcart."




http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HeroesGoneFishing http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BeachEpisode http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HorribleCampingTrip http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LoveTriangle http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OlderHeroVsYoungerVillain http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NewSuperPower http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PetBabyWildAnimal http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Animorphism



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http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PygmalionPlot •Pygmalion Plot: 

- galatea


Training Montage http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TrainingMontage 

- movie 
- con ares


Makeover Montage http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MakeoverMontage 

- my fair lilith


Jaw Drop http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/JawDrop She Cleans Up Nicely http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SheCleansUpNicely Unnecessary Makeover http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/UnnecessaryMakeover 

- Lilith
- ness and unness


•The Smurfette Principle: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheSmurfettePrinciple In the pilot movie, Yvenna. In the series proper, Lilth and Kora


Princess for a Day http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PrincessForADay 

- Lilith


Limited Wardrobe http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LimitedWardrobe - every character


Moment Killer http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MomentKiller 

- Iolaus, every time herc/Cyane kiss
- Lilith&Herc, for Jason/Pelia


Shorttank http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Shorttank 

- Lilith



And Now You Must Marry Me http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AndNowYouMustMarryMe baccus & Euridice


Ridiculously Cute Critter http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RidiculouslyCuteCritter



Pet Monstrosity http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PetMonstrosity 

- adult Ruff


I Didn't Tell You Because You'd Be Unhappy http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/IDidntTellYouBecauseYoudBeUnhappy Herc/Cyane - Zeus


Clear Their Name http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ClearTheirName Iolaus - between friends


Clip Show http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ClipShow



Duels Decide Everything http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DuelsDecideEverything Jason-Pollux


Emergency Impersonation http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EmergencyImpersonation Teacher's Pests



http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Plots



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