Magnetic Plot Device: Difference between revisions

Line 15:

* The [[City of Adventure]] is home to the [[Hell Gate|gates of hell.]]

* The protagonist is an [[Insufferable Genius]] and no one [[The Worm Guy|has a clue without his/her expertise]].

* The [[Superhero]] brings out the [[Super Villain~~|Super Villains~~]] hiding around, creating a [[Superhero Paradox]]. Likewise may he end up [[Create Your Own Villain|creating his own villain.]]

* The [[Superhero]] brings out the [[Super Villain]]s hiding around, creating a [[Superhero Paradox]]. Likewise may he end up [[Create Your Own Villain|creating his own villain.]]

* The [[Cardboard Prison]].

* A [[Meta Origin]] that explains ''everything.''

Line 35:

== Comics ==

* The chance of a quiet sane life for a [[Witchblade (Comic Book)|Witchblade]] wielder is zero. It [[MacGuffin|attracts unfriendly attention as a powerful artifact]] and possibly [[Witchblade (Comic Book)|itself]] tend to choose ladies already with predisposition to be [[Weirdness Magnet~~|Weirdness Magnets~~]].

* The chance of a quiet sane life for a [[Witchblade (Comic Book)|Witchblade]] wielder is zero. It [[MacGuffin|attracts unfriendly attention as a powerful artifact]] and possibly [[Witchblade (Comic Book)|itself]] tend to choose ladies already with predisposition to be [[Weirdness Magnet]]s.

* The Starbrand of ''[[The New Universe]]'' is a [[Weirdness Magnet]] and a weirdness ''generator'' all in one, it's the [[Meta Origin]] of [[Differently-Powered Individual|Paranormals]]... And it [[Artifact of Doom|blows up cities]] if you mishandle it.

* In ''[[Supreme Power]]'', the various parts of the spacecraft that brought Hyperion to Earth tend to catalyze plot-signifigant events, as well as providing a [[Meta Origin]] for most other superhumans.

Line 56:

* A perfect example is in Robert Jordan's ''[[Wheel of Time]]'' series in which the main characters are ta'veren. The ta'veren are people who inexplicably create outrageous coincidences and shape the world around them simply by existing.

** "Outrageous coincidences" are putting it mildly. On one ordinary day while Rand is in the city, a baby falls out of a high window onto cobblestones and crawls away unhurt; a freak wind blows a tiny feather into a man's open mouth and suffocates him to death; and a basket of roof tiles falls off a tower, shatters into a million pieces, and its shards happen to randomly (but perfectly!) form the image on the city's new flag.

** This sort of thing becomes really important in Mat Cauthon's development, once he becomes [[Genre Savvy]]. Since he's aware his presence skews probability, Mat takes bets on being able to do impossible things, and then does ~~them-- such~~ as when he throws a knife into a tiny block of wood in midair, a long distance away, while blindfolded.

** This sort of thing becomes really important in Mat Cauthon's development, once he becomes [[Genre Savvy]]. Since he's aware his presence skews probability, Mat takes bets on being able to do impossible things, and then does them—such as when he throws a knife into a tiny block of wood in midair, a long distance away, while blindfolded.

*** Though he forgot to put any money on that one...

* In the early [[Discworld]] novels, Rincewind is a walking magnetic plot device due to being possessed by one of the most powerful spells in the world. He's rid of it at the end of the second book, after which... he's ''still'' a magnet for everything weird that [[Terry Pratchett]] wants to throw at him. If it ain't broke...

Line 82:

** And with the help of Doyle/Cordy's visions when trouble doesn't come to Angel...

* The Rift in ''[[Torchwood]]'' - introduced in the 2005 series of ''[[Doctor Who]]'', it became the focus of the first two seasons of the spin-off. It provides the team with all manner of time / space weirdness to deal with, and occasionally draws the Doctor back there when he uses rift energy to refuel the TARDIS.

* The TARDIS from ''[[Doctor Who]]''. Seriously, how often is the Doctor actually ''looking'' for the plot of the episode? Nearly every time, he trips over the plot while sightseeing.<br /><br />The TARDIS was ancient and obsolete even back when the Doctor stole it in his first incarnation, so it doesn't always land where it is supposed to land. Naturally, it sometimes lands in the middle of trouble.<br /><br />Also, the TARDIS is stated multiple times to be alive and can sense things in the timeline. In "The Doctor's Wife", {{spoiler|the TARDIS herself}} claims that she lands wherever the Doctor needs to go.

* The TARDIS from ''[[Doctor Who]]''. Seriously, how often is the Doctor actually ''looking'' for the plot of the episode? Nearly every time, he trips over the plot while sightseeing.

The TARDIS was ancient and obsolete even back when the Doctor stole it in his first incarnation, so it doesn't always land where it is supposed to land. Naturally, it sometimes lands in the middle of trouble.

Also, the TARDIS is stated multiple times to be alive and can sense things in the timeline. In "The Doctor's Wife", {{spoiler|the TARDIS herself}} claims that she lands wherever the Doctor needs to go.

* The Stargate of ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' and everything else in the [[Stargate Verse]]. Understanding the Stargate's potential for weirdness, the military installed the iris to limit what could come through.

** The city of Atlantis in ''[[Stargate Atlantis]]''. There always seems to be some Ancient experiment that they discover that messes with the team from time to time.

Line 100:

Line 104:

* For ''[[Smallville]]'', the Magnetic Plot Device is not the [[Green Rocks]], but instead is the Kryptonian influence of Jor-El. The [[Green Rocks]] were just a side effect of that.

* A big criticism towards ''[[House (TV series)|House]]'' is the number of medical mysteries that get thrown his way, mentioned at being about one a week. The show has made some remarks in that regard, giving most patients a unique set-up as well as doctors all around the region would send patients to House because he was just that good.

* ''[[Merlin (TV series)|Merlin]]'''s two main characters are examples of ~~this -- Arthur~~, being Crown Prince of Camelot, is the target of numerous assassination plots and is expected to go forth and smite various evil creatures with mighty smitage; Merlin is an incredibly powerful sorcerer, which in itself attracts some opposition.

* ''[[Merlin (TV series)|Merlin]]'''s two main characters are examples of this—Arthur, being Crown Prince of Camelot, is the target of numerous assassination plots and is expected to go forth and smite various evil creatures with mighty smitage; Merlin is an incredibly powerful sorcerer, which in itself attracts some opposition.

* Immortals in the ''[[Highlander (TV series)|Highlander]]'' series are always drawn to each other because of the Quickening and [[There Can Be Only One|The Game]].