Expansion Pack Past: Difference between revisions

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== Live Action TV ==

* ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]''. Justified with Spike, since he's a centuries-old vampire, but Giles is hinted at being [[Jack the Ripper]], and so on.

* Most of the characters in ''[[Lost]]'' are like that now. For example, Locke's time in a hippie commune was never mentioned before or since in the series. This is being somewhat fixed in the fourth season by giving the main characters [[Flash Forward~~|Flash Forwards~~]] instead of [[Flash Back~~|Flash Backs~~]].

* Most of the characters in ''[[Lost]]'' are like that now. For example, Locke's time in a hippie commune was never mentioned before or since in the series. This is being somewhat fixed in the fourth season by giving the main characters [[Flash Forward]]s instead of [[Flash Back]]s.

* ''[[Quantum Leap]]'' is rife with this.

** Al has led a storied life before becoming the main character's [[Mission Control|Holographic Sidekick]]. He ran away from home to join the Circus, traveled with a Pool master, boxed semi-pro, flew for the Navy in Vietnam, was a POW, was the subject of a Pulitzer Prize photo, attended MIT, marched in the 60s, became an Astronaut, was promoted to Rear Admiral, has been married 5 times (between countless liaisons), was acquitted of murder, speaks Italian, and is a great cook.

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** Supposedly, a number of these are the result of [[Ripple-Effect-Proof Memory]] - every time Sam leaps, he changes his ''own'' past as well as whatever he changes in-leap.

* Howard Moon is supposed to be like this in the Crack Fox episode of "[[The Mighty Boosh]]".

* And then there was "Bon Chance Louie", proprietor of the Gold Monkey Bar in ''[[Tales of the Gold Monkey]]'', who apparently had been everywhere and done ~~everything -- including~~ being part of Mallory's expedition, in his last, unsuccessful, attempt to climb Mt. Everest, and nearly being guillotined.

* And then there was "Bon Chance Louie", proprietor of the Gold Monkey Bar in ''[[Tales of the Gold Monkey]]'', who apparently had been everywhere and done everything—including being part of Mallory's expedition, in his last, unsuccessful, attempt to climb Mt. Everest, and nearly being guillotined.

* Phoebe from ''[[Friends]]'' often makes passing allusions to unusual jobs or situations she was involved in before the series started, although she does have an ordinary backstory as well.

** And as she's a firm believer in reincarnation, there was at least one flashback scene to Phoebe in a previous life. Whether this is supposed to be purely imaginary is, one supposes, left to the viewer.

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* ''[[Family Guy]]'' also plays this trope straight, and usually for laughs, mainly due to its fondness for using quick, random flashbacks for jokes. It doesn't just apply to all the random jobs and activities characters have performed in the past (namely Peter, Brian, and Stewie), but also to how some of the characters met each other. Multiple flashbacks have happened which show Peter meeting Lois, Peter meeting Brian, or Peter meeting Cleveland and/or Quagmire.

* ''[[Duckman]]'' exaggerated this for a running gag, as the titular character's super-competent sidekick, Cornfed Pig, always appeared to have expertise and an extensive background in any task at hand. The trope was subverted to an extent when it was revealed that in all of Cornfed's many adventures, he had never successfully lost his virginity, and a [[Lampshade Hanging]] for Cornfed's ridiculous past was attempted, perhaps inadvertently, by showing at least three different flashback scenarios at different times in the series of how he came to be friends with Duckman.

* ''[[Batman: The Animated Series|Batman the Animated Series]]'' was a pretty good example of this trope, what with the extensive and varied training that Bruce had undergone in the ~~past -- everything~~ from samurai training to magic lessons.

* ''[[Batman: The Animated Series|Batman the Animated Series]]'' was a pretty good example of this trope, what with the extensive and varied training that Bruce had undergone in the past—everything from samurai training to magic lessons.

** Exactly how Bruce planned it. Besides, you can do card tricks in Japan.

* Roger the Alien from ''[[American Dad]]'' originally had a two-sentence origin: He was an alien being held at Area 51 who saved Stan's life. To repay him, Stan lets him live in his house. Over time, though Roger's past has been much more ~~colorful -- in~~ one episode it was revealed that he's actually been on Earth for over sixty years (he was the alien who crashed in Roswell) and stories of his past exploits keep popping up.

* Roger the Alien from ''[[American Dad]]'' originally had a two-sentence origin: He was an alien being held at Area 51 who saved Stan's life. To repay him, Stan lets him live in his house. Over time, though Roger's past has been much more colorful—in one episode it was revealed that he's actually been on Earth for over sixty years (he was the alien who crashed in Roswell) and stories of his past exploits keep popping up.

** Like how during the 70's, he was a millionaire music producer who "invented" disco by exploiting a [[Stable Time Loop]], then lost everything when disco died.

** Or that he's inexplicably an Olympic-class figure skater.