Chekhov's Gun • Hacker News Board

Re: Chekhov's Gun

#11

Post by moon2 » Thu, May 14, 2020, 8:56 PM UTC

RaycatRakittra wrote: post #5

kbenson wrote: post #3

Well, if you want a much more in-depth discussion (at least if you follow the links...) with examples than Wikipedia, you could do a lot worse than checking tvtropes.org.[1] P.S. Sorry in advance for the loss in productivity to anyone that clicks though and doesn't know what they're in for... 1: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ChekhovsGun

+1 for all statements regarding TVTropes. It isn't "just a click", trust.

Sure isn't just a click. Once you get in, you can never get out of a rabbit hole of hyperlinks.

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TVTropesWillRuin...

Re: Chekhov's Gun

#12

Post by russdill » Thu, May 14, 2020, 8:57 PM UTC

duxup wrote: post #9

I wonder how this plays out in mystery stories where there is what seems to be intentional misdirection where you are lead to believe someone might be the killer, but they're not. Granted some things like "nobody liked him" could be still relevant to the overall story, but particularly in film or TV I find those bits of misdirection common, but also kind of annoying.

The trope has a way of becoming overly predictable. Whenever I'm watching a mystery and there is an inconsequential detail that seems to serve no purpose, I immediately know to focus on that.

Re: Chekhov's Gun

#13

Post by moon2 » Thu, May 14, 2020, 8:59 PM UTC

Chekhov's Gun is a determining trope on "Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein". Quite literally, actually. There's a real gun at the beginning of the movie.

Re: Chekhov's Gun

#14

Post by duxup » Thu, May 14, 2020, 9:00 PM UTC

russdill wrote: post #12

duxup wrote: post #9

I wonder how this plays out in mystery stories where there is what seems to be intentional misdirection where you are lead to believe someone might be the killer, but they're not. Granted some things like "nobody liked him" could be still relevant to the overall story, but particularly in film or TV I find those bits of misdirection common, but also kind of annoying.

The trope has a way of becoming overly predictable. Whenever I'm watching a mystery and there is an inconsequential detail that seems to serve no purpose, I immediately know to focus on that.

I suppose that's the reason for the misdirection... although I usually find it sort of annoying after the fact.

But it is just entertainment.

Re: Chekhov's Gun

#15

Post by julianeon » Thu, May 14, 2020, 9:01 PM UTC

Related: if a new hire comes to your company and it's rumored that heads will roll, consider refreshing your contacts at other companies and replying back to 'are you interested' emails.

Re: Chekhov's Gun

#16

Post by ErikAugust » Thu, May 14, 2020, 9:02 PM UTC

Well, except for the intentional red herring, right?

Re: Chekhov's Gun

#17

Post by lihaciudaniel » Thu, May 14, 2020, 9:05 PM UTC

Once you read this article, it will ruin every book, movie and TV show you watch.

Re: Chekhov's Gun

#18

Post by rosywoozlechan » Thu, May 14, 2020, 9:06 PM UTC

I like when little things have subplots of their own in movies, like the tale of the boot in Fury Road.

Re: Chekhov's Gun

#19

Post by k00b » Thu, May 14, 2020, 9:10 PM UTC

It's really fun to call out Chekhov Guns while watching movies with a group. You appear clairvoyant.

Re: Chekhov's Gun

#20

Post by baxtr » Thu, May 14, 2020, 9:11 PM UTC

moon2 wrote: post #11

RaycatRakittra wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

+1 for all statements regarding TVTropes. It isn't "just a click", trust.

Sure isn't just a click. Once you get in, you can never get out of a rabbit hole of hyperlinks. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TVTropesWillRuin...

For F*cks sake. I didn’t know that page until now. I already got lost reading 4 articles in a row. Thanks for ruining my life