Summer is finally here! Between spending time with friends and enjoying new adventures, you’re likely looking forward to relaxing and catching up on your favourite TV shows.
As you watch, you might begin to notice certain patterns and recurring plots. For instance, have you ever wondered why things always seem to go wrong on a character’s wedding day? Or why so many episodes wrap up with the revelation that “it was all just a dream”? These patterns are known as tropes, and they help guide viewers through stories that feel familiar. Check out our list of common TV tropes and see if you can spot them in your favourite shows.
Jump the shark
This refers to the moment it becomes clear that a TV show has declined in quality, exhausted its storylines, or is making desperate attempts to attract more viewers. Writers might resort to improbable events or bring in famous guest stars to boost ratings.
The phrase originated from an episode of the American TV show Happy Days, which aired from 1974 to 1984. The show focused on a teenager, his family, and his friends during the 1950s and 60s. In the show’s fifth season, a character jumps over a live shark while water skiing, which led to the creation of this phrase – one that no fan wants to use to describe their favourite show.
Similarly, the term “nuke the fridge” describes the point at which a beloved film series has overstayed its welcome. This phrase comes from a scene in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, released in 2008, nearly 20 years after the third movie in the franchise. In this scene, the main character escapes a nuclear explosion by hiding in a refrigerator – a move many fans consider absurd.
Chuck Cunningham Syndrome
“Jump the shark” isn’t the only TV trope inspired by Happy Days; the show also helped coin a phrase to describe a character’s mysterious disappearance. Chuck Cunningham was the name of a regular character in the first two seasons. Suddenly, he vanished, never to be mentioned again.
There are various reasons a character might suffer from Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: it could be due to the actor’s death, conflicts between the actor and the show’s creators, or simply because the writers lost interest and forgot about them.
Learn Cantonese slang: How to talk about binge-watching your favourite TV shows and films
Flanderisation
This happens when a single element of a character’s personality is exaggerated until it becomes their defining trait.
The name originates from Ned Flanders in The Simpsons, who initially began as a friendly neighbour who happened to be Christian. Over the course of the show’s 36-year run, his character has evolved, and his religious beliefs have come to define his entire personality.
Another example is Joey Tribbiani on Friends. While Joey, played by Matt LeBlanc, was never portrayed as the smartest person, his intellect is exaggeratedly diminished throughout the series, making some of his storylines in the later seasons difficult to watch.
Cliffhanger
After years of being “just friends,” Ian finally realises that he is deeply in love with Sarah. However, Sarah is about to run off and marry Justin, who everyone knows is wrong for her and is only marrying her for her money. Can Ian reach Sarah in time to reveal his feelings and stop her from making the biggest mistake of her life? Find out what happens next season!
The cliffhanger trope is one of the easiest to recognise, often marked with “to be continued.” It keeps the audience on their toes, and if it occurs in the season finale, it leaves viewers eagerly awaiting the show’s return.
Fun fact: According to TVtropes.org, the term “cliffhanger” originates from film serials shown in cinemas from around the 1910s to the 1950s. These movies were screened in instalments and would frequently leave a character literally hanging from the side of a cliff, meaning that a viewer would need to visit again to see how they escaped in the next episode.
Bottle episode
This is an episode of TV that takes place in one location – usually on a set that has already been built and is regularly used – with a small cast. It’s a way to save money since constructing new sets, shooting in different locations, and paying guest stars can all be expensive. These episodes will provide a reason for keeping the characters in one place; perhaps they have lost a key or have to meet a deadline.
One example of a bottle episode is “The Box” from Season 5 of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, in which police detective Jake Peralta (played by Andy Samberg) and Captain Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher) attempt to extract a confession from a dentist accused of murder.
Filler episode
A filler episode is unrelated to the main plot of the series and doesn’t change anything about the relationships between the characters – it is quite literally a way to fill space and make a season longer. This trope is quite common in anime, with the Dragon Ball series being particularly notable for it.
Sadly, as TV seasons get shorter, filler episodes have become less common; even though they don’t change the main plot, they can still be fun to watch, and they give viewers a break from more high-stakes stories.
