Forbidden Chekhov's Gun: Difference between revisions

'''Egon''': "Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light."

'''Ray''': "Total protonic reversal."

Remember [[Chekhov's Gun]] that was on top of the mantel? The one Little Bobby was told ''never'' to touch, under ''any'' circumstances? Now's the time to grab it. This is a specific subtrope of the [[Chekhov's Gun]] where some points out the "gun" and ''explicitly warns against using it''. It doesn't have to be a [[Matter of Life and Death]]. It can be as simple as being told not to push a button, then later being told to push it.

== Anime ==

* Aban from ''[[Dai no Daibouken]]'' developed [[Dangerous Forbidden Technique|Grand Cross]] as a [[Godzilla Threshold]] skill. He specifically states that it's only intended to be used when everything else has been tried, which warns the viewer this [[Chekhov's Gun|skill]] will only be used at a story climax.

* ''[[Slayers]]'' offers another example with the Giga Slave. In order to keep it from being Lina's answer to every problem, a [[Godzilla Threshold]] aspect was introduced. Lina learns that the spell could cause the world to turn to chaos, and vows to never use it again; naturally, she's forced to do so at the end of Slayers Next.

** Interesting to note, however, is that it's not always used when there's a climax. The end of the first season, like the end of NEXT, is one big attempt to get her to perform the spell. She doesn't. Almost the entirety of Try, once the characters learn who the [[Big Bad]] is, is about finding a way NOT to use it. They succeed, but Lina always accepted that she may have to use the Giga Slave if their plan didn't work.

* Sugata of ''[[Star Driver]]'' has access to an extremely powerful first phase ability, the King's Pillar. However, every previous bearer of Samehk's mark who used the ability [[Dude, She's Like, in a Coma|never woke up again]]. Of course the time comes when he has to protect Wako, and well, you can guess what happened. Luckily for Sugata, his [[Level Up At Intimacy 5|libido]] was strong enough overcome that effect.

== Comic Books ==

== Film ==

* ''[[Ghostbusters]]'' has the iconic warning "Don't cross the streams," which they inevitably have to do at the end of the movie. As former [[Trope Namer]], it was also causing confusion, since this overlaps with [[Godzilla Threshold]]. In this case, the non-disaster when they do end up crossing the streams makes internal sense: they are firing into a {{spoiler|[[Parallel Universe]] and presumably, [[Inferred Holocaust|the disaster Egon predicts happens '''there''']] - and closes the gate}}.

* In ''[[Orgazmo]]'', Choda Boy swears off using his dangerous "Hamster Style" at a young age due to its unpredictability, but at the movie's (heh, heh) climax, he employs it with great results.

* [[Thursday Next]] has something to break in event of "unprecedented emergency"—with the explicit note that your death is not an unprecedented emergency.

* [[Babylon 5]]: The "Bonehead Maneuver" as mentioned in the Season 3 premiere. Basically, you have two ways of going in and out of hyperspace. If your ship is powerful enough, you can open your own jump point, or, if your ship isn't that powerful, you have a Jump Gate open one for you. You never want to open a jump point inside a jump gate, because this causes one massive explosion of a [[Negative Space Wedgie]]. Aside from the loss of a very hard to replace jump gate (typically a star system will have one at most) and potentially stranding people in the system if they lack massive starships, this doesn't actually cause any huge universe-altering affects. Just a huge explosion that is difficult for most ships big enough to open a jump point to [[Outrun the Fireball|outrun]] (So, not really a [[Godzilla Threshold]]). They end up using the trick in a tricked-out new spaceship that MIGHT be fast enough to get away after using this trick to kill an enemy they DEFINITELY weren't big enough to fight.

== Radio ==

* In [[Hitch Hikers Guide to The Galaxy]], it's generally a really bad idea to activate the starship [[Cool Ship|''Heart of Gold'']]'s Infinite Improbability Drive without proper programming, as literally '''anything''' could happen as a result. However, when confronted with imminent destruction by a pair of nuclear missiles, [[Unfazed Everyman|Arthur Dent]] goes ahead and does it anyway, since almost anything else would be an improvement. Luckily, the only thing that happens this time is a redecorating of the ship's bridge, and the two nuclear missiles being replaced by a live sperm whale and a bowl of petunias. (Also occurs in the book, TV series and movie adaptations.)

** If we knew why the bowl of petunias thought "Not again!" while falling, we would probably understand a lot more about the universe. {{spoiler|Of course, later in the series, we find out EXACTLY why. Damn thing kept getting killed by Dent.}} [[It Makes Sense in Context]].

== Tabletop Games ==

* ''[[Warhammer 40,000]]'' gives us [[Artifact of Doom|the Spear of Twilight]], which will doom whomever removes it from stasis to death from a wasting curse. Prince Yriel saved his Craftworld from being eaten by Tyranids by using it.

== Theme Parks ==

* In the ''[[Men in Black (film)|Men in Black]]: Alien Attack'' ride at Universal Studios, a [[Big Red Button]] like the one mentioned in the above example appears in every ride car. Like in the film, you are told never to press it. However, by the end of the ride you face a giant alien that's immune to your weapons. Guess what you have to do?

** A cheesy instruction video seen while in line on the ride explains exactly WHY you don't press the button; it's basically a ''nuke'' capable of frying the more [[Kaiju]]-esque aliens.

== Video Games ==

* ''[[Metroid: Other M]]'' combines this with [[A Taste of Power]] for the {{spoiler|Power Bombs}}. You test them out in the beginning of the game, and are promptly told to ''never'' use them, and in fact attempting do so will fail. {{spoiler|Until the final boss, where you HAVE to use them after being swallowed.}} Also a [[Guide Dang It]] since you have, most likely, completely forgotten they exist by that point and wouldn't think to use them after all the hubbub about not using them previously.

* This is the same way ''[[8-Bit Theater]]'' character Red Mage's Ice-9 spell (a reference to the novel ''Cat's Cradle'') works: as [http://www.nuklearpower.com/2004/11/25/8-bit-chronicles-2-of-3/ the description] puts it, it removes all heat from the universe it is used in, thus destroying all energy. He can only use on other dimensions, like a bag of holding that he shoved an enemy in which White Mage then smashed with a hammer.

* ''[[Bob and George]]'''s ultimate team-up attack is named as such, and is described by Bob that [http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/index.php?date=011217 it'll definitely kill Mind, but might kill him, George and Dr. Light in the process.] [[Million-to-One Chance|They decide to attack anyway.]] Bob and George first shoot streams of fire and lightning energy at Mynd, then [http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/index.php?date=011219 Bob channels his fire into George], the end result being exponentially more powerful than the two alone.

== [[Web Original]] ==

* Played for laughs in ''[[A Very Potter Musical]]'' in which Harry shouts: "don't cross the streams!" when the [[Power Trio|trio]] summon their Patronus.

** And <s> Milfoy</s> <s> Malloy</s> <s> Count Chocula</s> Malfoy. But the dialogue the Ghostbusters use is used in AVPM as well, though to dicuss why Harry has to compete in the House Cup tournament rather than beam-crossing.

== Western Animation ==

** The dog can talk, and they ''always'' team up.

*** They did this gag before. "We have to cross the creams!"

{{quote|'''Peter''': "Egon, this reminds me of the time you tried to drill a hole through your head."

'''Egon''': "That would have worked if you hadn't stopped me." }}

{{reflist}}