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Bullets Do Not Work That Way: Difference between revisions
moved "truth in television" to "real life" at end of sections
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{{trope}}
{{quote|''"Thank God for these [[Lampshade Hanging|bulletproof tables they've got everywhere now]]."''
|'''Jigen''', ''[[Lupin III]]'' ([[Geneon]] [[Gag Dub|dub]])}}
In real life, bullets are little lumps of lead that fly through the air at great speed and generally put holes in whatever they hit. On TV bullets are made from [[Applied Phlebotinum]] and rarely penetrate objects like couches or overturned dinner tables, [[Theory of Narrative Causality|unless the plot dictates otherwise]]. TV bullets have several other remarkable characteristics.
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When bullets fail to penetrate through things that really shouldn't stop them—such as drywall, car doors, and in many cases, [[Bulletproof Human Shield|people]], that's [[Concealment Equals Cover]].
{{examples}}▼
▲{{examples}}
== Anime and Manga ==
* In the first episode of ''[[Black Cat Detective]]'', the title character shoots at a mouse. The bullet misses completely, and the mouse celebrates his narrow escape. How can he know that soon the bullet will stop in mid air, turn around, and then chase him? Eventually, the bullet passes through his ear, causing it to fall off.
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** a) Skulls are quite thick; a moderately-powerful bullet could curve just about any way you please punching through it, and b) [[Cosmic Horror|Cthulhu]] [[A Wizard Did It|Did It]].
*** The problem with a) is that if the blood spatter from the exit wound is all landing on you, then the bullet exited directly facing you. If the bullet curved off to the side then the exit wound would likewise be oriented sidewise from you.
* A [https://web.archive.org/web/20081228075111/http://shopping.discovery.com/product-56798.html?jzid=40587982-0-0 Discovery Channel documentary] actually took Oswald's rifle as well as ammunition from the same factory lot that was found in the book depository, and duplicated six of the seven wounds. The seventh would have occurred as well had the bullet not expended extra energy striking and breaking two rib bones of Governor Connolly compared to only one in the original incident. Striking all debate about the surroundings of the assassination, the Discovery Channel's accomplishment in catching a single bullet on high-speed cameras striking seven separate targets and doing so within half an inch of the bulls-eye certainly qualifies for the trope.▼
== Video Games ==
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* On ''[[Family Guy]]'', Joe once shot a ''bird'' right in front of Peter without the bullet going through (though this was probably [[Rule of Funny|intentional]]).
** And they once went paintballing with actual guns . . . inside the house. Despite mysteriously impermanent excessive property damage, I think only one person was shot.
== Real Life ==
▲* A [https://web.archive.org/web/20081228075111/http://shopping.discovery.com/product-56798.html?jzid=40587982-0-0 Discovery Channel documentary] actually took Oswald's rifle as well as ammunition from the same factory lot that was found in the book depository, and duplicated six of the seven wounds. The seventh would have occurred as well had the bullet not expended extra energy striking and breaking two rib bones of Governor Connolly compared to only one in the original incident. Striking all debate about the surroundings of the assassination, the Discovery Channel's accomplishment in catching a single bullet on high-speed cameras striking seven separate targets and doing so within half an inch of the bulls-eye certainly qualifies for the trope.
== Other or Multiple Types ==
* Disappearing bullets in general. It seems to be the conviction of Hollywood that bullets somehow [[Fridge Logic|get transported to Valhalla]] after finishing their mission. In real life of course this is not true. Instead they keep going until they run out their momentum or are blocked by something (like the target). For instance it was a common feature of [[World War II]] air battles for there to be a veritable hailstorm of spent rounds for several minutes after.
**The otherwise-accurate ''[[Waterloo]]'' was outrageous for this, because most artillery was roundshot at the time and could be seen at the end of
**This Troper remembers his dad taking him and his brothers soda-can popping. One thing he made ''sure'' to do was make sure there was a sharp earthen facing behind the targets for this reason.
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