What fantasy cliché(s) do you hate?
3 months ago
“You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.” ~Ray Bradbury
Those who have even an interest for fantasy have plenty reasons to love it. Sometimes it’s the story or characters or the imaginative setting itself that sucks us in.With that said, there are some tropes or cliches of fantasy stories that often annoys us to no end.
Me? There are two Fantasy clichés that I can think off the top of my head that I really cannot care for. The first is when a story is clearly ripping off another more popular one in terms of plot or magic system or even scenario. Harry potter is probably the most influential “inspiration“ for these copycats.
The other fantasy cliché I cannot stand goes as follows: a young paragon hero either born into poverty or an average background gradually gains the skills and tools necessary to take on the evil villain, but later down the plot, it’s revealed that the heroic protagonist with a heart of gold actually has an important lineage with a grand destiny. More often than not, this is an issue for story lines in anime and manga, but Western stories are also guilty of this. At least with mythology and folklore, it’s acknowledged from the start that heroes like Hercules have at least one god and one member of royalty as parents. However, I think it’s hypocritical when a fantasy story starts off with the main character spouting that their average nobodies capable of doing anything with hard work and determination…only to later learn that their father or grandfather is an all-powerful figure who is responsible for giving them said skills that make them OP. Rather than have a protagonist that is interesting and comes from humble origins like a majority of people out there who are drawn to them, it’s actually all in the bloodlines (I’m looking at you Naruto & The Rise of Skywalker), and all you have to do to be a awesome hero is to make sure you’re born with the right assortment of relatives.
How about you though. Are there any fantasy clichés or tropes that you cannot stand either? What are they and why?
Me? There are two Fantasy clichés that I can think off the top of my head that I really cannot care for. The first is when a story is clearly ripping off another more popular one in terms of plot or magic system or even scenario. Harry potter is probably the most influential “inspiration“ for these copycats.
The other fantasy cliché I cannot stand goes as follows: a young paragon hero either born into poverty or an average background gradually gains the skills and tools necessary to take on the evil villain, but later down the plot, it’s revealed that the heroic protagonist with a heart of gold actually has an important lineage with a grand destiny. More often than not, this is an issue for story lines in anime and manga, but Western stories are also guilty of this. At least with mythology and folklore, it’s acknowledged from the start that heroes like Hercules have at least one god and one member of royalty as parents. However, I think it’s hypocritical when a fantasy story starts off with the main character spouting that their average nobodies capable of doing anything with hard work and determination…only to later learn that their father or grandfather is an all-powerful figure who is responsible for giving them said skills that make them OP. Rather than have a protagonist that is interesting and comes from humble origins like a majority of people out there who are drawn to them, it’s actually all in the bloodlines (I’m looking at you Naruto & The Rise of Skywalker), and all you have to do to be a awesome hero is to make sure you’re born with the right assortment of relatives.
How about you though. Are there any fantasy clichés or tropes that you cannot stand either? What are they and why?
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No guns is another - firearms have been a thing in real life since the early 1300s...a period which is generally well BEFORE the one used in most fantasy settings.
Ten thousand years ago humanity was just starting to farm with copper tools, yet in fantasy worlds they have medieval stone castles that were built that long ago?
Irredeemably evil species
The lack of governments other than feudal monarchies
Magic that is simply learned but is still rare somehow.
But yeah you already mentioned what I really dislike: When a story seems to start with a protagonist that archives things through determination and work but then it turns out they have a magical bloodline or something like that. It's especialy wide spread in anime and I think it really undermines the storytelling potential.