"World of Cardboard" Speech: Difference between revisions

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* ''[[Black Lagoon]]'': Rock, when trying to explain his motivations to Revy:

{{quote| '''Rock:''' Back in my country, you called yourself a gun. If you're a gun, then I'm the bullet. A bullet's just a lump of lead. But once the hammer hits it, it gains the power to blow anything away; the gunpowder was always waiting to explode. [...] I'm a silver bullet that can strike anywhere, kill any monster. But use it wrong and you just end up the monster's prey. So, it's up to you to decide when to pull the trigger.}}

* Heero Yuy in ''[[Gundam Wing]]: Endless Waltz'', gives one as he battles the [[Face Heel Turn~~|Face Heel Turned~~]] Wu Fei. It's kind of long (since [[Warrior Therapist|their entire battle is both physical and ideological]] and lasts about 1/3 of the whole film), but it concludes like this:

* Heero Yuy in ''[[Gundam Wing]]: Endless Waltz'', gives one as he battles the [[Face Heel Turn]]ed Wu Fei. It's kind of long (since [[Warrior Therapist|their entire battle is both physical and ideological]] and lasts about 1/3 of the whole film), but it concludes like this:

{{quote| '''Heero:''' This will only make the history of human beings repeat itself. They'll be the witnesses of such miserable battles! If we don't stop right now, they'll need soldiers like us again! [[Cycle of Revenge|If that happens, the same tragedy with happen all over!]] Please, Wufei, tell me... How many lives will he have to sacrifice? How... [[My Greatest Failure|how many times will I have to kill that girl and her dog]]...?}}

* Oddly enough, one of the most touching World of Cardboard Speeches came from an antagonist in ''[[One Piece]]''. Hannyabal, [[The Starscream]] of the [[Rescue Arc|Impel Down Arc]], explained that he couldn't let Impel Down fall because it would cause fear and chaos that would harm the weak ordinary citizens of the World Government.

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'''Faye:''' ''"Is that it? You're just going to throw your life away?"''<br />

'''Spike:''' ''"I'm not going there to die. I'm going there to see if I was ever really alive."'' }}

* Detective Ikari does this in the last episode of ''[[Paranoia Agent]]''. As one of the characters who has gotten some of the worst of it: {{spoiler|he lost his job, his wife died, and he was too old to learn any new skills}}. His [[World of Cardboard Speech]] comes when he {{spoiler|destroys the 2-D fantasy world with a baseball bat claiming that the real world has no place for an old man like him, but that he would rather face that harsh reality than live in a fantasy world}}. It is truly epic to watch.

* Detective Ikari does this in the last episode of ''[[Paranoia Agent]]''. As one of the characters who has gotten some of the worst of it: {{spoiler|he lost his job, his wife died, and he was too old to learn any new skills}}. His World of Cardboard Speech comes when he {{spoiler|destroys the 2-D fantasy world with a baseball bat claiming that the real world has no place for an old man like him, but that he would rather face that harsh reality than live in a fantasy world}}. It is truly epic to watch.

* In the first few ''[[Haruhi Suzumiya (Light Novel)|Haruhi Suzumiya]]'' books and pretty much the entire anime, Kyon is just trying to get by, to do what he needs to do deal with Haruhi and little more, relying on Nagato to handle any really serious issues. Then the whole world changes, so that he could go back to a normal life. In the end he decides (In a World of Cardboard Monologue) that he much prefers the old world, and is willing to go back and enjoy it head on, and no longer {{spoiler|rely on Yuki so much, whom had caused the events of the story as part of a nervous breakdown.}} [[The Movie]] version of this is epic.

* In the finale of ''[[Digimon Adventure]]'', {{spoiler|the Digidestined and their Digimon have been digitized by [[True Final Boss|Apocalymon]], their Digimon were reverted to their base forms, and their [[Upgrade Artifact|crests]] are destroyed. They realize that their crests were powered by their own spirits and thus didn't need the physical items, and they return to face Apocalymon with a [[World of Cardboard Speech]] and proceed to battle him.}}

* In the finale of ''[[Digimon Adventure]]'', {{spoiler|the Digidestined and their Digimon have been digitized by [[True Final Boss|Apocalymon]], their Digimon were reverted to their base forms, and their [[Upgrade Artifact|crests]] are destroyed. They realize that their crests were powered by their own spirits and thus didn't need the physical items, and they return to face Apocalymon with a World of Cardboard Speech and proceed to battle him.}}

** During the hunt for their [[Upgrade Artifact|crests]], which allow their digimon to evolve into more powerful forms, they found that each crest represented something special and unique about them and it would only work when they were exibiting those attributes. Tai's crest was Courage, but he tried to force Agumon to evolve by putting himself in harm's way, which caused a warped evolution into SkullGreymon, a violent [[The Berserker|berserker]]. A very traumatizing mistake, but Tai learned that courage wasn't rushing into a battle, but standing up against evil, allowing Agumon to evolve into his proper form, MetalGreymon. Each digidestined had to go through something similar (although not with warped evolutions) through the remainder of the season.

** The original gives Agumon one about the strength of his bond with his friends in the 50th episode, at the climax of his fight with Mugendramon. The dub, [[Lull Destruction|being the dub]], turns it into him reminding Machinedramon of [[For Massive Damage|exactly what it is his claws do]] to Digimon of his type.

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* Another one for the [[Trope Namer]], doubling as a [[Shut UP, Hannibal]] to Manchester Black (a [[Nineties Anti-Hero]] pastiche), who's trashed his values and told him he's "living in a bloody dream world":

{{quote| '''Superman:''' I wouldn't have it any other way. Dreams save us. Dreams lift us up and transform us. And on my soul, I swear... until my dream of a world where dignity, honor, and justice becomes the reality we all share - I'll never stop fighting. Ever.}}

** Superman could be considered the king of this trope easily. His speeches at the end of the White Martian Invasion arc and the arc wherein Preus is introduced are damn near [[Tear Jerker~~|Tear Jerkers~~]] due to awesomeness alone.

** Superman could be considered the king of this trope easily. His speeches at the end of the White Martian Invasion arc and the arc wherein Preus is introduced are damn near [[Tear Jerker]]s due to awesomeness alone.

*** Another example from Superman comes when General Zod brings up his [[Thou Shalt Not Kill|code against killing]].

{{quote| '''Superman:''' I can't take your life, much as I'm tempted. But my code doesn't say a damn thing about not battering you to within an inch of it, ''murderer''! ''(and proceeds to do just that)''}}

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* In ''[[The Matrix (Film)|The Matrix Revolutions]]'', Neo gives a rather brief, but effective, one to Smith, when the latter demands to know '''''why''''' Neo persists in fighting him.

* ''[[The Lion in Winter]]''. About halfway through the film Prince Philip has a [[No Mister Bond I Expect You to Dine]] moment with King ~~Henry -- and~~ three other people who [[Exact Eavesdropping|happen to be listening in]] ~~-- revealing~~ he is ''nowhere'' near as delicate or naive as he looks, seemingly proving himself a cunning adversary. Just when you think Philip's achieved his [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]], Henry promptly demonstrates [["The Reason You Suck" Speech|why Philip sucks.]]

* ''[[The Lion in Winter]]''. About halfway through the film Prince Philip has a [[No Mister Bond I Expect You to Dine]] moment with King Henry—and three other people who [[Exact Eavesdropping|happen to be listening in]]—revealing he is ''nowhere'' near as delicate or naive as he looks, seemingly proving himself a cunning adversary. Just when you think Philip's achieved his [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]], Henry promptly demonstrates [["The Reason You Suck" Speech|why Philip sucks.]]

{{quote| '''Henry:''' I found out the way your mind works and the kind of man you are. I know your plans and expectations - you've burbled every bit of strategy you've got. I know exactly what you will do, and exactly what you won't, and I've told you exactly nothing. To these aged eyes, boy, that's what WINNING looks like!}}

** Henry has the upper hand, right? Wrong. Philip launches into his [[World of Cardboard Speech]] and plays the people hiding in the room against him.

** Henry has the upper hand, right? Wrong. Philip launches into his World of Cardboard Speech and plays the people hiding in the room against him.

* ''[[Labyrinth (Film)|Labyrinth]]''. "You have ''no power'' over me!"

* Jack Skellington sings one of these near the end of ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]'', in the song "Poor Jack." He is having a [[Heroic BSOD]] about his failure to bring about Christmas, starts reprising Jack's Lament, starting with the line "I, Jack, the Pumpkin King"... then remembers that, yes, he is the Pumpkin King, and will work hard on making next Halloween even better.

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* Villainous example in ''[[Last Action Hero]]''.

{{quote| '''Benedict:''' Gentlemen. Since you are about to die anyway, I may as well tell you the entire plot. Think of villains Jack. You want [[Dracula]]? Dra-cool-la? Hang on, (''takes out the [[Plot Coupon|ticket]]'') I'll fetch him. Dracula? Huh. I can get [[King Kong]]! We'll have a [[A Nightmare On Elm Street|nightmare with Freddy Krueger]], have a surprise party for [[Adolf Hitler]]; [[Silence of the Lambs|Hannibal Lecter]] can do the catering, and then we'll have a christening for [[Rosemarys Baby]]! All I have to do is snap my fingers and they'll be here. They're lining up to get here, and do you know why Jack? Should I tell you why? Hmm? Because here, in this world, the bad guys can win!}}

* The final battle in ''[[Eight Mile (Film)|Eight Mile]]'' is B. Rabbit making one giant [[World of Cardboard Speech]] in free style form.

* The final battle in ''[[Eight Mile (Film)|Eight Mile]]'' is B. Rabbit making one giant World of Cardboard Speech in free style form.

* ''[[Inception (Film)|Inception]]'' has an interesting version of this, in that {{spoiler|the emotional conflict and the physical conflict are the same thing, through the character of Mal.}}

** It is an interesting version of the relationship between the physical/emotional conflict, but the [[World of Cardboard Speech]] comes in this dialog:

** It is an interesting version of the relationship between the physical/emotional conflict, but the World of Cardboard Speech comes in this dialog:

{{quote| '''Cobb''': I can't stay with her anymore because she doesn't exist.<br />

'''Mal''': I'm the only thing you do believe in anymore.<br />

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== Literature ==

* Sondra Marshak's published ''[[Star Trek]]'' novel ''The Prometheus Design'' is ''all'' about Spock doing this. Pick up a copy ~~of -- well~~, any of her published Star Trek novels, or [http://www.simegen.com/fandom/startrek/kraith/ go read anything in the ''Kraith'' series starting with Volume Four]. Her obsessions border on [[Author Appeal]].

* Sondra Marshak's published ''[[Star Trek]]'' novel ''The Prometheus Design'' is ''all'' about Spock doing this. Pick up a copy of—well, any of her published Star Trek novels, or [http://www.simegen.com/fandom/startrek/kraith/ go read anything in the ''Kraith'' series starting with Volume Four]. Her obsessions border on [[Author Appeal]].

* In ''[[Harrison Bergeron]]'', Harrison goes down to the TV station, and before he takes off his handicaps, says "even as I stand here -- crippled, hobbled, sickened -- I am a greater ruler than any man who ever lived! Now watch me become what I can become!" And then it's all [[Crapsack World|heavily subverted]] when he promptly becomes {{spoiler|a corpse, thanks to a dictatorial surgeon general armed with a shotgun}}.

* In ''[[Discworld (Literature)/Lords and Ladies|Lords and Ladies]]'', Granny Weatherwax gives the {{spoiler|Queen of the Elves}} one of these when she explains why she's better than her.

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* Bill Fitzhugh's ''Pest Control'' has this when Bob and Klaus are cornered by an armed assassin. Klaus says they need a weapon. Then a lightbulb goes off in Bob's head, and Klaus actually watches his shoulders square with [[Heroic Resolve]] as he declares that {{spoiler|the entire city of New York is a weapon, and then proves it by killing their pursuer by running through a few restauraunts.}} Any further detail would spoil the book, so I'll just say it makes Jason Bourne look like a putz.

* While not a Villain per se, Tyburn in ''[[Rivers of London]]'' was an interfering bitch who was determined to crush the protagonist for her own political ends. When she gives him a [[Reason You Suck Speech]] about how useless he is and how easy it was to stop him, Peter Grant's comeback is awesome. Made doubly so because he totally owns her in front of her entire family of river spirits causing matriarch Mama Thames to applaud him for doing so.

* In the ''[[Vampire: The Requiem]]'' supplement "Danse Macabre," a ''wonderful'' story of the Chicago vampires running in bits between the chapters climaxes with an antiheroic version of this. Prince Maxwell Clarke confesses to {{spoiler|the diablerie of Norris Spiegel}} in a scene that's half [[World of Cardboard Speech]] and half [[Reason You Suck Speech]] adding up to a [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]] as he shares a recent revelation: He's truly sick of pushing himself to his limits keeping the city safe for a bunch of ingrates who use that safety to plot against him and abuse and mock him for his efforts to keep the peace. The speech goes on a while and is interrupted a couple of times, but this excerpt sums it up nicely:

* In the ''[[Vampire: The Requiem]]'' supplement "Danse Macabre," a ''wonderful'' story of the Chicago vampires running in bits between the chapters climaxes with an antiheroic version of this. Prince Maxwell Clarke confesses to {{spoiler|the diablerie of Norris Spiegel}} in a scene that's half World of Cardboard Speech and half [[Reason You Suck Speech]] adding up to a [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]] as he shares a recent revelation: He's truly sick of pushing himself to his limits keeping the city safe for a bunch of ingrates who use that safety to plot against him and abuse and mock him for his efforts to keep the peace. The speech goes on a while and is interrupted a couple of times, but this excerpt sums it up nicely:

{{quote| "I'm tired of being lobbied, taken for granted and schemed against. I am now, officially, a ''tyrant''. You all knew I'd ignore my own laws, Persephone here proved that, and I'm sick of the pretense. I get to do whatever I want. You don't. You don't Embrace, you don't kill one another, you sure as hell don't commit diablerie, but if I feel like it, ''I can do any of that.'' I think you'll put up with it, I really do. Because the alternatives are worse. Because in my tenure, I've run this city better than any Prince anyone can remember. Because with me, Chicago ''works''. If you don't agree? Think you can do better? All right, try to upset the apple cart. Just remember {{spoiler|Norris}}. He had half of us blackmailed, he was old and smart and had a legion of spies behind him. Look where ''he'' ended up."}}

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* ''[[Kamen Rider Decade]]'' features a slight twist on this. During the final confrontation in each world, the [[Big Bad]] will deliver a [[Hannibal Lecture]] to Tsukasa and that world's primary Kamen Rider. Tsukasa will counter with a World of Cardboard Speech, not for himself, but for his current partner, explaining their motivation and how that makes them a real hero - which is typically the main point of the other Rider's original TV series, as Decade is an anniversary show. This is also typically the point where Tsukasa gains access to his partner's powers as per Decade's conceit of [[Power Copying]].

** In ''Movie Wars'', Decade unknowingly delivers a [[World of Cardboard Speech]] ''simultaneously'' with ''[[Kamen Rider Double]]'', seconds before they cross over. What's notable about this is that the subject of their speeches are almost the same, even culminating in the two of them alternately declaring their respective [[Catch Phrase|catchphrases]].

** In ''Movie Wars'', Decade unknowingly delivers a World of Cardboard Speech ''simultaneously'' with ''[[Kamen Rider Double]]'', seconds before they cross over. What's notable about this is that the subject of their speeches are almost the same, even culminating in the two of them alternately declaring their respective [[Catch Phrase|catchphrases]].

* ''[[Pushing Daisies]]'' featured quite a lot of these, many of which were aided by the [[Lemony Narrator|narrator]].

* Inverted in the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' episode "The Waters of Mars" when the Doctor has the epiphany that {{spoiler|he doesn't have to follow the rules anymore because he is [[Last of His Kind|the last of the Time Lords]] and [[A God Am I|the laws of time belong to him]].}} But when he tries to act on this epiphany {{spoiler|and save the remaining crew of Bowie Base One, Captain Brooke ''[[Heroic Sacrifice|shoots herself]]'' rather than allow him to play with the future chain of events he himself told her was immutable.}} He realizes he has a mental block, says the speech, attempts to kick ass fueled by the power of his new outlook, but [[You Can't Fight Fate|mostly fails]].

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** At the end of ''X8'', Zero delivers one ''again'':

{{quote| Even if we Reploids are destined to join the scrap heap when that evolutionary step does come about...we still have to fight...Not only against Mavericks, but against our own destiny as well.}}

* In ''[[Fate Stay Night]]'', Shirou delivers a World of Cardboard Speech in the Unlimited Blade Works route on how, even if he knows it's only because he's selfish and naive and knowing where he may end up if he keeps it, he'll still try to work towards his ideal of saving everyone to {{spoiler|Archer}} ~~-- who~~ can't hear a word of the speech because Shirou is busy fighting him and can't speak loudly enough to be heard. The trope also shows up in Heaven's Feel, {{spoiler|where Kotomine lays out his own convictions on letting Angra Manyu loose on the world, which opposes Shirou's equally selfish and [[Not So Different]] ideal to destroy it to save Sakura (of course, one of these selfish ideals ''won't'' also eradicate humanity, but that's not really the issue here)}}.

* In ''[[Fate Stay Night]]'', Shirou delivers a World of Cardboard Speech in the Unlimited Blade Works route on how, even if he knows it's only because he's selfish and naive and knowing where he may end up if he keeps it, he'll still try to work towards his ideal of saving everyone to {{spoiler|Archer}}—who can't hear a word of the speech because Shirou is busy fighting him and can't speak loudly enough to be heard. The trope also shows up in Heaven's Feel, {{spoiler|where Kotomine lays out his own convictions on letting Angra Manyu loose on the world, which opposes Shirou's equally selfish and [[Not So Different]] ideal to destroy it to save Sakura (of course, one of these selfish ideals ''won't'' also eradicate humanity, but that's not really the issue here)}}.

* In one of the bonus maps of ''[[Disgaea 2 Cursed Memories (Video Game)|Disgaea 2 Cursed Memories]]'', [[The Atoner|Kurtis]] faces an army of clones of his old [[Anti-Hero]] self, seeking to eliminate him for being an "outdated" kind of hero. Seeing them as incarnations of his previous mistakes, he gives a lengthy speech about true heroism and proceeds to kick ass.

* Alicia of ''[[Valkyria Chronicles]]'' has one when she's standing against an enemy battleship fortress {{spoiler|as an activated Valkyria}}, stating that she knows how to give her life {{spoiler|as a Valkyria}} meaning. {{spoiler|Her impending [[Heroic Sacrifice]] is stopped by a 1-2-3 punch from Welkin consisting of a confession of love, a marriage proposal, and a [[Cooldown Hug|Cooldown Kiss]].}}

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* Near the end of ''[[God of War (Video Game)|God of War]] 2''.

{{quote| '''Kratos''': If all on Olympus will deny me my vengance, then all on Olympus will die. I have lived in the shadow of the gods for long enough. The time of the gods has come to an end!}}

* In the final battle of ''[[Wild Arms 2 (Video Game)|Wild Arms 2]]'', what starts with the protagonist extends to ''all of humanity'' delivering a speech about how they should stop relying on heroes to do all their fighting and making [[Heroic Sacrifice~~|Heroic Sacrifices~~]]. They promise to fight together to protect the world... while the protagonist is fighting alone in the one place they can never physically reach. Cue [[Combined Energy Attack]] and [[Crowning Music of Awesome]]. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y37qRomvY6Y It starts around 2:50 and extends through the entire fight.]

* In the final battle of ''[[Wild Arms 2 (Video Game)|Wild Arms 2]]'', what starts with the protagonist extends to ''all of humanity'' delivering a speech about how they should stop relying on heroes to do all their fighting and making [[Heroic Sacrifice]]s. They promise to fight together to protect the world... while the protagonist is fighting alone in the one place they can never physically reach. Cue [[Combined Energy Attack]] and [[Crowning Music of Awesome]]. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y37qRomvY6Y It starts around 2:50 and extends through the entire fight.]

* ''[[The Force Unleashed]] 2''.

{{quote| '''Starkiller''': (''narrating while slaughtering stormtroopers and droids'') Betrayed by Vader for the ''last'' time. A new journey begins... With something worth fighting for... ''Someone'' worth dying for... And I will not stop... I will not rest. Vader can't stop me now! (''quietly'') Vader can't stop me now. Nothing can.}}

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* From ''[[Misfile]]'', Rumisiel delivers [http://www.misfile.com/index.php?page=986 this] speech:

{{quote| '''Rumisiel:''' You want to see spirits? You want to look into the eyes of the beings who will watch over the end of days? I have seen the fall of empires and the murder of millions! I have shoved that data into files like so many numbers! I have seen a great many things, but little as ignorant and dangerous as a conceited little girl who has used so called "spiritual devices" to turn her own unbridled ID into a demon capable of killing the one she's too stupid to realize she loves!}}

* In ''[http://bobandgeorge.com/comics/gamer/14 Captain Gamer]'', while he's fighting a mind-controlled [[King of Fighters|Mai Shiranui]], who tells him that [[As Long As There Is Evil|there will always be evil and he'll never change that]], Captain Gamer responds that she's ~~right--there~~ will always be evil, but there will ''also'' always be good, and ''that'' is why he continues to fight.

* In ''[http://bobandgeorge.com/comics/gamer/14 Captain Gamer]'', while he's fighting a mind-controlled [[King of Fighters|Mai Shiranui]], who tells him that [[As Long As There Is Evil|there will always be evil and he'll never change that]], Captain Gamer responds that she's right—there will always be evil, but there will ''also'' always be good, and ''that'' is why he continues to fight.

* In ''[[Captain SNES]]'', [[Chrono Trigger (Video Game)|Lucca]] gives a truly memorable one to the Eater of Dreams in [http://www.captainsnes.com/2011/03/14/647-playing-with-fire/ comic 647].

{{quote| '''Lucca:''' When there is no hope...there's nothing to lose by trying. Maybe I am {{spoiler|destined to become a puppet}}. Maybe there's nothing I can do to stop what's coming. BUT I'LL BE '''DAMNED''' IF I GO DOWN QUIETLY. Even if I have to {{spoiler|twist the very fabric of reality}}...'''I won't lose!'''}}

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** {{spoiler|Reborn}} Tex has one of these in Avalanche when she's telling {{spoiler|Epsilon}} Church that she's going to find out why she's there. Then she shoots him in the foot. Because Tex.

** Wash has one to accompany his [[Face Heel Turn]].

** Church has a truly memorable and brilliant one of these at the end of season 8, where he accepts the realities of a situation {{spoiler|that he's an AI and that he's going to try and find Tex inside the dying Epsilon Capture Unit}}. It turns a truly crushing [[Downer Ending]] into a [[Bittersweet Ending]], because he's hopeful that he'll find Tex and that they will be able to be together, after all. He even makes very touching comments on the nature of love and relationships, and somehow made it not inimical to the absolute silliness of the world. Swiftly and thoroughly deconstructed in the next season, mainly for laughs. Finally resolved with a ''second'' [[World of Cardboard Speech]] to round out, of all things, the "Memory is the Key" arc, that left anyone with a ''soul'' absolutely speech''less''.

** Church has a truly memorable and brilliant one of these at the end of season 8, where he accepts the realities of a situation {{spoiler|that he's an AI and that he's going to try and find Tex inside the dying Epsilon Capture Unit}}. It turns a truly crushing [[Downer Ending]] into a [[Bittersweet Ending]], because he's hopeful that he'll find Tex and that they will be able to be together, after all. He even makes very touching comments on the nature of love and relationships, and somehow made it not inimical to the absolute silliness of the world. Swiftly and thoroughly deconstructed in the next season, mainly for laughs. Finally resolved with a ''second'' World of Cardboard Speech to round out, of all things, the "Memory is the Key" arc, that left anyone with a ''soul'' absolutely speech''less''.

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[[Category:These Tropes Love To Brag]]