Doing In the Scientist: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{quote|"''You got your crappy fantasy all over my sci-fi RPG.''"|'''Anon.'''}}
|'''Anon.'''}}
 
'''Doing in the Scientist''' is the "[[Sci Fi Counterpart|rational]]" counterpart of [[Doing inIn the Wizard]]—this is where story element (or [[Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane|possibility]]) that was originally explained by 'science' is [[retcon]]ned into actually being [[A Wizard Did It|due to magic]] or supernatural forces. This tends to be poorly received, partly because [[Fantasy]] is [[Even Nerds Have Standards|even more]] [[Sci Fi Ghetto|stigmatised]] than [[Science Fiction]] and partly because it tends to throw the established "rules of [[The Verse]]" out of the window.
 
Contrast [[How Unscientific]].
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Not to be confused with [[The Magic Goes Away]]. If magic is the whole basis for a civilization's technology, see [[Magitek]].
 
{{examples}}
== Anime &and Manga ==
 
* In ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX]]'', after extended use of duellingdueling using shock-collars, Kaiser develops heart problems. This was initially explained as overuse of the shock collars, but the reason was done away with in favor of the [[Dangerous Forbidden Technique|dark power of his deck]], which [[Deceptive Disciple|he stole from his mentor]].
== Anime & Manga ==
 
* In ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX]]'', after extended use of duelling using shock-collars, Kaiser develops heart problems. This was initially explained as overuse of the shock collars, but the reason was done away with in favor of the [[Dangerous Forbidden Technique|dark power of his deck]], which [[Deceptive Disciple|he stole from his mentor]].
* ''[[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure]]'' has gone into this full-force with Steel Ball Run, where it is revealed that Stands, at least in ''that'' continuity, are caused either by coming into possession of the remains of a Saint's body {{spoiler|it's most likely Jesus's}} ''or'' travelling through a cursed, ever-changing-location, region in the United States.
** Which is strange seeing that stands received the [[Doing inIn the Wizard|opposite treatment]] in the previous continuity.
* [[Witch Hunter Robin]]: While the officiall explaination is that witch powers are caused by genetics that only the medieval period confused for genuine magic this explaination falls flat numerous times
** Some witches use symbols that can be recognized by other witches who share no other relation which implies that there is a [[Magic A Is Magic A|a coherent system in use]] among witches. One witch even contacted her sister's ghost for a revenge plot with a ritual that Robin recognized.
** On one occasion Robin's [[Playing with Fire|fire power]] was nullified by standing on a water rune.
** Just five years pre-series the STN used anti-witch bullets with carvings to ward off evil, and someone in the main narrative still does.
 
 
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== Live -Action TV ==
* According to the [[Opening Narration]] of ''[[The Sentinel (TV series)|The Sentinel]]'', the fight for survival in the jungles of Peru heightened his senses, but the episodes attributed it to [[Magical Native American]] powers.
** The French opening narration walked around this by being more "open" to the magical interpretation.
** It wasn't just the fight for survival. He already had the genes of a sentinel (tribal watchman). The comforts of the modern world, however, did not require him to use his abilities. Being in Peru merely unlocked the hyper-senses. However, the addition of magic in the later episodes was definitely a copout.
* ''[[Quantum Leap]]'s'' series finale basically revealed that [[God]] was controlling Sam's actions, there were other non-technological based Leapers who were guardian angels thought dead or disappeared, and that most of the things previously thought to run on science actually ran on magical miracles. Though, all along it was suggested that his constant leaping was not due to the machine he built but some outside force.
* [[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|The reimagined ''[[Battlestar Galactica Reimagined]]'']] began as hard science fiction and slowly acquired more and more religious/fantastic elements. Precognition, incorporeal beings, restoration of destroyed objects and resurrection from the dead. Still though, many fans assumed that in the end everything would be explained away by some rational (or at least science-fiction-alfictional) explanation: initially, through the involvement of [[Xanatos Gambit|the Cylons]] (particularly with regards to resurrection) then later [[Sufficiently Advanced Aliens|super-evolved extraterrestrials]], [[Neglectful Precursors|lost technological civilizations]] etc. {{spoiler|No such revelation was forthcoming and the series ended with the characters, at least, putting the events of the series down to divine intervention,}} although strictly speaking the viewer is left to make up his own mind.
* ''[[Lost]]'' danced with a scientific explanation for everything in seasons 4 and 5. Season 6, meanwhile, reverts back to fantasy, focusing the plot around two people who seem to be immortal demi-gods (one of whom has even been theorized to be a outright ''genie'', since he claims to be able to grant wishes to his followers and whomwho is being kept on the Island like a cork keeps wine in a bottle) while introducing rules about not being able to kill somebody if they speak to you first, a healing spring that turns you evil when it's grimy and so on.
** The show always played with the idea of science vs. faith, as epitomized by Jack and Locke respectively. There are scientific explanations for many of the things that happened (plane crashed, the time travel, etc.) and though Jacob guided the events of the whole show, it doesn't mean the actual events lack a logical reason as to how they happened. Put simply, the writers deliberately wrote the show so that most events were a blend of the scientific and the faith-oriented, and very few things were purely one or the other.
* ''[[Babylon 5]]'' toyed with the idea that at least some of the First Ones' powers were magical for a long time, but always also left it open that it was just the tech of [[Sufficiently Advanced Aliens]]. Then ''The Lost Tales'' depicted what appeared to be an actual Christian demon (it was implied that the entity's actual nature was more complex than that, but it was still strongly suggested to be genuinely supernatural).
** Many fans find the lack of ambiguity in ''The Lost Tales'' to be disappointing. However, ''B5'' contains plenty of beings capable of pulling off similar effects (the Technomages, just to start with) so Lochley's [["The Reason You Suck" Speech]] at the end may be entirely wrong.
* In ''[[The Vampire Diaries]]'' it turns out that {{spoiler|Jonathan Gilbert's invention don't work, but were enchanted by Emily unbeknownst to him to fulfill their intended function. Not likely to be a cause for backlash, seeing as magic is already established and the alternative is a 19th century, ''clockwork powered'' vampire detector.}}
* There is always ''[[Supernatural (TV series)|Supernatural]]'', basically the exact opposite of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' where pretty much anything thought to be science actually ends up being magic or because of magical entities. The kicker for any fan of this trope is that science is also pretty much useless in the show itself (i.e. most monsters can only be killed in specific magical ways, if they can even be killed at all).
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* Done in ''[[El Goonish Shive]]''. "Take THAT Science Fiction!"
** ''El Goonish Shive'' has an odd progression. At first, Tedd was a [[Teen Genius]] who invented a [[Transformation Ray]] gun. Then it was retconned to be [[Imported Alien Phlebotinum|Alien Technology]], which was then retconned to be [[Magitek]].
* In ''[[Sluggy Freelance]]'', it was originally implied that Oasis was the creation of [[Mad Scientist]] Dr. Steve, being either a robot he built or a human girl he [[Brainwashed]] and physically enhanced. Several years later, it's revealed that Dr. Steve didn't create Oasis at all; while exactly ''what'' she is remains unclear, researchers have labelled her "proof-positive paranormal" and stated "[https://web.archive.org/web/20160130123240/http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=090608 nobody made Oasis into a weapon but God]."
** Though [[Fantasy]] elements have been part of ''Sluggy Freelance'' since day one, so this revelation isn't as jarring as it might be in other series.
** Also, her magical ability? {{spoiler|Pyrokinesis. People STILL don't know how she survives being dead!}}
* ''[[Gunnerkrigg Court]]'' featured robots for many chapters, before it was revealed that some—if not all of them—are [[Magitek]], and capable of operating without motors, actuators, or any visible power source. In retrospect, this helps to explain how Antimony—who by her own admission doesn't know the first thing about how robots work—was able to single-handedly reassemble Robot S13.
** It being magical still doesn't explain how someone unfamiliar with it could reassemble it.
* [[Suppression]] takes an interesting twist on this trope AND [[Doing inIn the Wizard]]. Both wizards and scientists are trying to figure out what's up with Ebon Creek. Neither of them have all of the answers in so far.