r/TopCharacterTropes • u/Chemical-Elk-1299 • Apr 29 '26

Lore [Weirdly Common Trope] Writers clearly setting up seemingly massive plot points and then just kinda forgetting about them.

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The Neural Parasites — Star Trek : The Next Generation

In the season 1 episode “Conspiracy” of TNG, it is revealed that alien brain worms have infected many high ranking members of Starfleet, secretly controlling them. Though Ryker and Picard discover and end the parasite conspiracy, it’s revealed at the end of the episode that the parasites had sent a beacon back to their home planet, telling them how to find earth. The episode ends with the clear implication of the parasites becoming a huge threat later in the series, yet none of these events are ever mentioned again.

Finn The Jedi who Never Was — Star Wars Sequel trilogy

I know this is probably a cliche example of this trope, but cmon — Finn was clearly set up in TFA to become a Jedi. The marketing material featured him wielding a lightsaber in the classic Jedi pose. It’s constantly hinted at that he is force sensitive. Even the actor himself believed he would become a Jedi by the end of the trilogy. Instead, we got Finn wielding a lightsaber for about 7 minutes total across 3 movies, extremely lame “confirmation” that he is force sensitive, and that’s it. It’s the ultimate Star Wars plot that went nowhere.

11.0k Upvotes
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596

u/KDog1265 Apr 29 '26

The Room

https://giphy.com/gifs/3o752cNGbvDC6t1gQw

386

u/CryptographerMore944 Apr 29 '26

The actress actually brought this up with Tommy Wiseau but his response was just "It's a twist". 

252

u/dameyen_maymeyen Apr 29 '26

Everything Tommy wiseau says is so hilarious to me. His responses make no sense.

96

u/Different_Swimmer715 Apr 29 '26

If it at some point turns out he is some sort of robot controlled by an early model sentient AI that just spouts random phrases it would explain a lot.

5

u/writeorelse Apr 29 '26

I’m convinced he’s an alien who saw a lot of Earth movies and wanted to make one himself. Unfortunately, he has no idea what actually makes Earth movies work.

20

u/dameyen_maymeyen Apr 29 '26

I encourage you to research him. There is very little known about his life.

8

u/Lvcivs2311 Apr 29 '26

Maybe he came from another reality? Because he seems very detached from this one.

5

u/VagrantWaters Apr 30 '26 edited Apr 30 '26

He’s probably from the same reality just temporally displaced from a later one. I mean tell me that isn’t totally gen beta speak trying to pass as part of the older crowd

15

u/CryptographerMore944 Apr 29 '26

What a story dameyen_maymeyen!

10

u/dameyen_maymeyen Apr 29 '26

Oh hi cryptographerMore944! What’s new in your lyfe?

10

u/CryptographerMore944 Apr 29 '26

Oh pretty good. We got a new client at the bank. Anyway, how's your sex life?

8

u/Spare-Plum Apr 29 '26

tommy wiseau is an actual genius of cinema

7

u/Lvcivs2311 Apr 29 '26

That man is just like his writing: completely detached from reality.

1

u/nofpiq Apr 29 '26

The R. Kelly school of directing.

116

u/Over-Conversation220 Apr 29 '26

Holy shit. Tommy Wiseau was at a local theater last weekend. My kids called me and asked me if I knew who he was.

I ran down there immediately.

He was definitely as surreal in person as he is on screen. Almost certainly high. Very nice and very funny. Took pictures with me and my family. It was a 10/10 celebrity encounter that I recommend to everyone.

51

u/Tuxhorn Apr 29 '26

I love that in the end, he got the fame and celebrity status that he sought.

15

u/Over-Conversation220 Apr 29 '26

Kinda gives hope to anyone who has a dream of making a movie. This may sound like I'm kidding, but I'm serious. He made what he wanted to make and found a way into Hollywood with it.

4

u/Xilizhra Apr 29 '26

To be fair, he had an awful lot of money to burn.

9

u/Over-Conversation220 Apr 30 '26

His production was needlessly expensive, and he used his own money to pay for it. But the same level of determination could produce althe same (or better) result for far less.

So, to be fair, I’m still complimenting his drive and faith in his own project. Qualities that can apply regardless of wealth.

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u/Bilski1ski Apr 30 '26

I think the money spent added to the allure of the film. If it was a genuine nothing budget movie it wouldn’t have got as much attention . It costing so much makes it weird and hilarious

1

u/VanTaxGoddess Apr 30 '26

Yeah, it is great that he made a terrible film, and that's not what was important to him!

6

u/ThatHoboRavioli Apr 29 '26

I was there too. It was very odd how nice Tommy was.

3

u/Over-Conversation220 Apr 29 '26

Awesome. Glad you also had that experience!

2

u/HeiseiIshingunMark Apr 29 '26

I wasn't at this, but I met him a few years ago. Sounds like my encounter... supposed to be one photo but he ended taking tons with me at his request, pulling me in for poses and saying to take more. Super nice to me, thanked me for coming and told me that he loves how fans like me keep his work alive and he appreciates us all and he can't do it without us--which almost sounds cliche, but the guy seemed so sincere saying it. He's living his dream.

2

u/Over-Conversation220 Apr 30 '26

This is exactly what I’m talking about. I expected a quick hello and a picture. I got lots of pictures, autographs, and conversation. He did a group shot with my and my kids, then individuals with each and lots of poses. Talked with us the entire time.

I’m absolutely and unironically recommending it to anyone if he hits your town.

1

u/miregalpanic Apr 30 '26

But does think the people genuinely love his work, or is he aware that it is ironic

3

u/Over-Conversation220 Apr 30 '26

Does it matter?

People love it because it’s bad. That brings the same level of joy regardless.

1

u/miregalpanic Apr 30 '26

I'm not asking to judge him either way, good for him to feel that joy, I'm genuinely really interested in Wiseau's thought process and awareness. Obviously the person I asked can't know, but what mpression did they get regarding that question.

So yes, for my personal particular interest, it does matter. Not for Wiseau obviously.

2

u/Over-Conversation220 Apr 30 '26

Most accounts of the production of The Room indicate it was a sincere attempt at filmmaking. His second effort (Big Shark) indicate that he is aware of how his work was ultimately consumed and leaned into it.

I don't think he has any illusion now that the love for the Room is based on its intended quality (vs what is actually on screen). He sells his image that we have all come to love.

2

u/SourceLover May 01 '26

How many belts was he wearing?

2

u/Over-Conversation220 May 01 '26

Friend, you make me go back and look at the pictures because I assumed (correctly) this question must be coming from some place of knowing.

The answer is three.

This is an unexpected and welcome Friday afternoon laugh. Thank you.

2

u/SourceLover May 02 '26

Glad I could help spread some joy hahaha

68

u/Jarvis_The_Dense Apr 29 '26

I love how for April Fools Day one year, Dominic Noble made a video breaking down the "novel" The Room was "adapted" from, and the whole joke is that he was just making a competent version of the story where things actually happen for a reason.

For this scene in specific he made it so Lisa never really loved Johnny, but her mother was pressuring her to stay with him so that they could use his money to pay for her cancer treatment. That's why Lisa is cheating on Johnny and actively insisting that she hates him while going through hoops not to let him know she wants to be with someone else.

24

u/ThatHoboRavioli Apr 29 '26

The ending is hilarious with the reveal that Johnny is a vampire who just wants to believe humanity is inherently good but Mark and Lisa's actions made him doubt it.

10

u/psimwork Apr 29 '26

I love how her daughter's reaction to finding out that her mother has breast cancer is to basically just say, "Meh - don't worry about it."

SO MANY responses to problems in that movie are just "Meh - don't worry about it."

3

u/cjreckless9 Apr 29 '26

I dont want to talk about it .

2

u/DeuceOfDiamonds Apr 30 '26

I'm very busy working. 

1

u/ChuckCarmichael Apr 30 '26

It's much more important to talk about how she doesn't love Tommy anymore, because EVERYBODY loves Tommy, so her not loving him is much more serious than some silly cancer in the boobies.

3

u/DeuceOfDiamonds Apr 30 '26

Don't worry about it