DictionaryDecimator's definitions

Heel-Face Turn

When a character who was previously an antagonist becomes a protagonist.

The villain's heel-face turn was so sudden, one minute he was plotting world domination, the next he was baking cookies for orphans."

by DictionaryDecimator July 6, 2024

Heinleinian

Referring to the works of Robert A. Heinlein, or particularly his style of integrating scientific and technical detail into his stories.

"His writing was so Heinleinian, by page ten I knew how to build a spaceship from a toaster and some duct tape."

by DictionaryDecimator July 6, 2024

Narrative Deadweight

A character, part or sub-plot in a book, or movie that adds nothing to the overall story.

Ron: "The part about the protagonist's goldfish was total narrative deadweight, but it did give us a great fish funeral scene."

by DictionaryDecimator July 6, 2024

Shaggy Dog Story

Can have three meanings:
1. A simple joke about a boy and his Shaggy Dog, which is made to have no punchline to invoke some kind of laughs
2. A joke that goes on and on just for a bad or boring ending
A movie or a book that is just like (Definition) 2 but for books/movies

1. "I said the shaggy dog story to a couple of fellows, funny to think they actually laughed"
2. "I can't believe I wasted my money just to see a wannabe comedian say a shaggy dog story"
3. "After 757 pages of build-up, the treasure was just a rubber chicken. Talk about a shaggy dog story."

by DictionaryDecimator July 6, 2024

Franchise Zombie

A series that continues long after it should have ended, often losing quality and storyline over time.

"The story went from A Yorkshire man finding out he is the heir of the Multiverse in the first one to him losing his spaceship keys in Neptune, talk about a Franchise Zombie"

by DictionaryDecimator July 6, 2024

Chekov's Gun

The principle that every element introduced in a story should be necessary and used later.

"When it was said in Chapter one that Timmy's hamster used to only eat the tail fur of the Namaqua chameleon found in Southwestern areas of Namib desert. I knew it was Chekov's gun waiting to go off"

by DictionaryDecimator July 6, 2024

Canon Sue

A character in fan fiction (typically the author themselves) who is inserted into an existing universe and is unrealistically perfect. A fan-fiction version of Mary Sue: A term for a character who is unrealistically perfect without any flaws in (original) novels (Male of Mary Sue: Gary Stu)

"When she wrote herself into Harry Potter as the best witch ever, becoming the headmistress of Hogwarts while being a student, defeating Voldemort with itching powder and a single sponge, she created a canon sue."

by DictionaryDecimator July 6, 2024