From Beyond the Fourth Wall: Difference between revisions

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Sometimes a character needs help, and sometimes that help comes from a highly unexpected place - us, or the author. When something like this affects the plot from outside the work in a very definite and obvious way it can be said to come [[From Beyond the Fourth Wall]]. For example, when an audience member tosses the hero an item that helps save the day, or the author nips into their own work to lend the characters a boat (or, inversely, a character sneaking into our world to steal one). The author may even step directly into a work in order to assume a role of some sort, if this is the case they often have [[Author Powers]] and can [[A God Am I|manipulate the fabric of their fictional universe]]. Of course, it isn't always good things that come from beyond the [[Fourth Wall]], the author could add something dangerous 'to make things more interesting' or for some other reason.

Sometimes related to [[No Fourth Wall]], though only in cases where the interaction ''directly'' alters the work in a physical way. For examples where the fourth wall is internal and the story affected is a [[Show Within a Show]] see [[Intrepid Fictioneer]]. Related to [[Deus Ex Machina]], though [[Anvilicious|far less subtle]]. Could be considered a [[Super Trope]] of [[Author Powers]] and, occasionally, [[Creator Cameo]]. Not to be confused with [[Refugee From TV Land]], [[Mary Sue]] characters, [[Audience Participation]], or [[Clap Your Hands If You Believe]]. ''Really'' not to be confused with regular examples of [[Breaking the Fourth Wall]], if a character simply talks to the viewer it doesn't count!

Sometimes related to [[No Fourth Wall]], though only in cases where the interaction ''directly'' alters the work in a physical way. For examples where the fourth wall is internal and the story affected is a [[Show Within a Show]] see [[Intrepid Fictioneer]]. Related to [[Deus Ex Machina]], though [[Anvilicious|far less subtle]]. Could be considered a [[Super-Trope]] of [[Author Powers]] and, occasionally, [[Creator Cameo]]. Not to be confused with [[Refugee From TV Land]], [[Mary Sue]] characters, [[Audience Participation]], or [[Clap Your Hands If You Believe]]. ''Really'' not to be confused with regular examples of [[Breaking the Fourth Wall]], if a character simply talks to the viewer it doesn't count!

'''Note:''' instances where the main character is portrayed as the author of a work (such as ''[[The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night Time]]''), alternate realities and dimensions, references to real world events (such as 9/11), and anything else where it is not clear that something from our world is ''directly'' intervening in the plot (in a way that is [[Breaking the Fourth Wall]]) do not count!

'''Note 2:''' An abridged series you may have heard of is NOT the [[Trope Namer]].

== Anime ==

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* Stephen Gregg's short play ''S.P.A.R.'' essentially is this trope padded out to 40 or so minutes.

* In the ''[[~~Doctor Who (TV)|~~Doctor Who]]'' stage play (and audio adaptation) ''Doctor Who and the Daleks in the Seven Keys to Doomsday'', the two companions, Jimmy and Jenny, are (supposedly) theatregoers who have come to watch the play. Close to the beginning, the injured Doctor calls for help; they run to him, and become part of the action.

* In the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' stage play (and audio adaptation) ''Doctor Who and the Daleks in the Seven Keys to Doomsday'', the two companions, Jimmy and Jenny, are (supposedly) theatregoers who have come to watch the play. Close to the beginning, the injured Doctor calls for help; they run to him, and become part of the action.

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{{quote| Cut out the rough stuff once in a while and act more refined. Be like ladies and gentlemen. That's the natural thing to do. (signed) Popeye [[Fan Club]]. P.S. Now go on with the picture.}}

* In the bugs bunny cartoon, "Rabbit Rampage" (a [[R Emake]] of "[[Duck Amuck]].") [[Bugs Bunny]] fights with the animator, represented by a brush that does all sorts of unpleasant things to him. Subverted in that at the end it's revealed to be Elmer Fudd.

** In another [[Bugs Bunny]] cartoon "Hair Raising Hare" Bugs is trapped in a [[Mad Scientist]]'s [[Big Fancy Castle]]. At one point, as Bugs is behind a door and a monster is trying to break through, a desperate-sounding Bugs cries out, "[[Is There a Doctor In The House]]?" A silhouette, seemingly from the theater audience, stands up and offers, "I'm a doctor." Bugs suddenly relaxes, grins, starts munching a carrot, and asks, [[Catch Phrase|"What's up, Doc?"]]

** In another [[Bugs Bunny]] cartoon "Hair Raising Hare" Bugs is trapped in a [[Mad Scientist]]'s [[Big Fancy Castle]]. At one point, as Bugs is behind a door and a monster is trying to break through, a desperate-sounding Bugs cries out, "[[Is There a Doctor In The House?]]?" A silhouette, seemingly from the theater audience, stands up and offers, "I'm a doctor." Bugs suddenly relaxes, grins, starts munching a carrot, and asks, [[Catch Phrase|"What's up, Doc?"]]

** Another cartoon featured a villian saying that no one could stop him, not even the guy in the third row. He is defeated at the end and when asked who did it, the guy in the third row responds.

* This is practically the premise of ''[[Winky Dink]]''.

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[[Category:Plots]]

[[Category:From Beyond The Fourth Wall]]

[[Category:Trope]]