Chekhov's gun 

A literary element that, at first, seems to have no purpose but is later revealed to be important to the plot. This is commonly thought of as a parallel of foreshadowing, but it is more properly interpreted as "do not include any unnecessary elements in a story."

The return of Carmelita Spats in The Slippery Slope after her seemingly unnecessary appearance in The Austere Academy is an example of Chekhov's gun.

"One must not put a loaded rifle on the stage if no one is thinking of firing it." -Anton Chekhov

Chekhov's gun by Rising_Rose January 17, 2010

Chekhov’s Firing Squad 

A Chekhov’s Firing Squad is when a TV show or movie has almost no plot in the first several episodes, and then proceeds to pull all triggers at once. The way that this turns out is a show feeling bland, with presumably filler episodes for most of the season, though these episode actually build foreshadowing and silent plot. These small, unnoticed details go completely unheard or said, until they all hit you at once like a freight train.

“Bro, that show was a Chekhov’s Firing Squad!”

Chekhov’s Firing Squad by Theomunstroa May 20, 2023

Chekhov's Unregistered Firearm 

A dramatic principal that states every element of a story must be completely unnecessary and never called back to.

Season 7 of Doctor Who contains numerous examples of Chekhov's Unregistered Firearm

Chekhov's Unregistered Firearm by redsleepinggrass November 29, 2022

Chekhov’s Dog 

If a film shows a dog more than once (specifically if that dog has a connection to the main character) that dog will then die later on.

I am Legend is a prime example of Chekhov’s dog

Chekhov’s Dog by Origami_Sangha March 7, 2021

Chekhov's Ball-Gag 

If a ball-gag appears in a work of erotica, one or more characters must use said ball-gag before the story's end. Variation of Chekhov's "gun on the mantle." Bonus points if you put the ball-gag on a mantle.

That ball-gag hasn't been used yet, but it seems important - it must be a Chekhov's Ball-Gag!

Chekhov's Ball-Gag by Marilyn Spence December 31, 2019

chekhov's gun 

you better shoot that thang

Danny: oh hey a gun
Kurtis: well, you know what they say about chekhov's gun
both: you better shoot that thang

chekhov's gun by squiddy_animations February 27, 2022

Chekhov's Atom Bomb

When a director is clearly trying to be clever and force a Chekhov's Gun into their story, but it's painfully obvious what it is.

*obvious twist villain picks up a knife in a dedicated close-up shot*
protagonist: woah! you're clearly gonna kill me with that knife! this director fucking sucks, what a chekhov's atom bomb

Chekhov's Atom Bomb by andcastle December 25, 2025