It's a Long Story: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

This is a phrase typically used when a character has finished an adventure isolated from the others. Since it is redundant to have him/her explain the events we just saw ourselves, the typical move to have the character answer the others' questions of what happened is with, "It's a long story" with the assumption that he tells it to them later, off-screen.

 

{{examples}}

* ''[[Kanon]]'' Ayu tells Yuuichi several times that the reason she's stole Taiyaki is a really long story. He keeps pestering her about it until she gives up and tells him ''I was hungry.''

 

== [[Comic Books]] ==

* Subverted in ''[[The Adventures of Tintin]]'': in ''[[Tintin/Recap/Land of Black Gold|Land of Black Gold]]'', Haddock meets Tintin at the end, and is very adamant in his repeated attempts to explain what happened to him offscreen ("It's quite simple - and, at the same time, rather complicated..."), only to be interrupted every time. Eventually, he gives up, [[Breaking the Fourth Wall]] to tell the reader "you'll never know!"

* In the introduction of ''[[Empowered]]'', why the lily-white Ninjette has a Japanese name.

 

== [[Fan Works]] ==

"It's a very, very long story," Rachel said stiffly.

"I'm immortal," I said. }}

 

== [[Film]] ==

* From ''[[The Wicker Man]]'', "Do sit down, Sergeant. Shocks are so much better absorbed with the knees bent."

* Awesomely spoofed in ''[[The Muppet Movie]]'' when Fozzie starts to reiterate the whole plot so far to the Electric Mayhem. Kermit decides to save time by letting them read the script.

{{quote|'''Guinan:''' Emotions?

'''Geordi:''' I'll explain later. }}

 

== [[Literature]] ==

** Later, when Eorache asks how he escaped: "It is a long tale," said Goodgulf, taking a deep breath. "Then save it," interrupted Eorache."

 

* Spoofed in (what else?) ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'':

{{quote|'''Willow''': Oz is a werewolf.

'''Oz''': Got bit.

'''Buffy''': Apparently not that long. }}

{{quote|'''Xander''': Oh God, what'd you do to each other?

'''Buffy''': Long story.

'''Cordelia''': Got hunted.

'''Buffy''': Apparently not that long. }}

{{quote|'''Angel''': It's complicated how this all happened, Buffy, you know? It's kind of a long story.

'''Buffy''': Your new sidekick had a vision, I was in it, you came to Sunnydale?

{{quote|'''Den Mother:''' What happened to him?

'''Kermit:''' It's a long story... Actually, it's a ''short'' story. He did something ''dumb''.}}

 

== [[Radio]] ==

'''Lintilla:''' ''Because.''

'''Hurtenflirst:''' That's ''neat!'' }}

 

== [[Toys]] ==

* ''[[Bionicle]]'':

{{quote|'''Axonn''':Just so you know... Brutaka's [[I Am Legion|his own "we"]] now. Long story."}}

 

== [[Video Games]] ==

* Conker says this in at the intro to ''[[Conkers Bad Fur Day]]'', when he begins to explain to the viewer how he became a king and who all the strange people surrounding his throne are. The rest of the game takes place during the previous day.

* In ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'', when the gang are in Christmastown, <s> Sandy Claws</s> [[Santa Claus]] asks [[Idiot Hero|Jack]] "What trouble did you bring ''this'' time?" Sora asks Jack about it, and Jack replies, "[[The Nightmare Before Christmas|It's a long story!]]"

 

== [[Web Comics]] ==

'''Dr Bunnigus''': ... Where does this story start being long?

'''Schlock''': Did I say long? I meant disturbing. }}

* ''[[Walkyverse|It's Walky!]]'' does the big setup version [https://web.archive.org/web/20131011031916/http://www.itswalky.com/d/20040113.html here:]

{{quote|'''Rachel''': Okay, Joe, I think it's time we told you teh sad truth Robin has had to face throughout her childhood. It's a long and sordid tale, and every twist and turn will break your heart.

 

== [[Web Original]] ==

* This is how [[Bum Reviews|Chester A. Bum]] handwaves some of his more... ''esoteric'' claims.

{{quote|I had no genitalia once! Long story.}}

 

== [[Western Animation]] ==

* In one ''[[Danger Mouse]]'' episode, Penfold basically turns his back for a moment and then sees that D.M. has escaped from the trap he was just in, and fixed their car as well. Penfold asks how he did it, and D.M. says, "I'll explain... later, Penfold." Penfold: "But how did you fix the car?" D.M.: [[Lampshade|"I'll explain later, Penfold!"]]

* This is Yang's last line in the "Yellow" Trailer for ''[[RWBY]]''.

{{reflist}}

[[Category:This Index Happened Offscreen]]

[[Category:Stock Phrases]]