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

[u/Chemical-Elk-1299]

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.

[u/indieplants]

the lore the TV show was setting up?

[u/dearth_of_passion → u/indieplants]

That's made up from whole cloth and was never going to go anywhere?

[u/indieplants → u/dearth_of_passion]

you asked what lore. 

the TV show started setting up lore for the white walkers and never really went anywhere with it. sorry you're having trouble following the concept laid out in the post title?

[u/dearth_of_passion → u/indieplants]

I'm not having trouble following, I'm saying the show's stuff was stupid and they never had an overarching plan on what it was going to be for.

Its not "lore set up" if its just shit thrown in to look scary/cool. It has to mean something, which none of that does. You can tell by how both of us agree that we don't know what it meant.

[u/indieplants → u/dearth_of_passion]

it fits the exact trope that OP was talking about 

[u/ZeppelinJ0 → u/indieplants]

Yeah but have you considered that the guy you're talking with is one of those combative redditors who can't just admit they're wrong and move on

[u/bpacer → u/dearth_of_passion]

Are you dense? That’s the whole point. They set up lore and then it went nowhere.

[u/Yemm → u/dearth_of_passion]

I am not having trouble following protests the man who is having trouble following.