Meanwhile in the Future: Difference between revisions

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This can be used as a way to maintain suspense about past events, using [[Anachronic Order|out-of-order storytelling]] to keep the audience in the dark about crucial details.
This can be used as a way to maintain suspense about past events, using [[Anachronic Order|out-of-order storytelling]] to keep the audience in the dark about crucial details.


[[Time Travel]] is not a neccessary element for this trope, but in those scenarios it can also reflect the ability of past, present, and future to interact with one another.
[[Time Travel]] is not a neccessary element for this trope, but in those scenarios it can also reflect the ability of past, present, and future to interact with one another.


The actual phrase "[[Meanwhile in the Future]]" is usually used tongue-in-cheek, but there are examples of legitimate comic books using it with a straight face.
The actual phrase "[[Meanwhile in the Future]]" is usually used tongue-in-cheek, but there are examples of legitimate comic books using it with a straight face.
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== Comic Books ==
== Comic Books ==
* The Swedish comic ''Goliat'' would announce cuts with captions like "Simultaneously in the Stone Age ..." in its time-travel arcs, without apparent irony.
* The Swedish comic ''Goliat'' would announce cuts with captions like "Simultaneously in the Stone Age ..." in its time-travel arcs, without apparent irony.
* [[The Flash]] had a whole storyline that relied on this for it to work. The Flash (AKA Wally West) is stuck thousands of years in the future, forced to go past his top speed over and over again in order to get closer to his home time. Each time he does this, he risks dying -- but he survives because the love of his girlfriend, Linda, is "like a lightning rod" which keeps him from getting lost in time and space. Meanwhile, in the...present, Linda has given Wally up for dead and moved on to a new guy. The moment she kisses him, (thus severing the connection between herself and Wally) the story cuts to an image of Flash, in the future, seemingly dying, despite the fateful kiss having happened over FOUR THOUSAND YEARS AGO from where he's standing.
* [[The Flash]] had a whole storyline that relied on this for it to work. The Flash (AKA Wally West) is stuck thousands of years in the future, forced to go past his top speed over and over again in order to get closer to his home time. Each time he does this, he risks dying -- but he survives because the love of his girlfriend, Linda, is "like a lightning rod" which keeps him from getting lost in time and space. Meanwhile, in the...present, Linda has given Wally up for dead and moved on to a new guy. The moment she kisses him, (thus severing the connection between herself and Wally) the story cuts to an image of Flash, in the future, seemingly dying, despite the fateful kiss having happened over FOUR THOUSAND YEARS AGO from where he's standing.
* This happens at the beginning of a storyline in ''[[Ultimate Fantastic Four]]'' (before they go back to prevent Ben's transformation to the Thing.) Reed is in contact with Sue and Johnny who are both in different time periods. Their communicators are apparently acting as a [[Portal to the Past]] for communication.
* This happens at the beginning of a storyline in ''[[Ultimate Fantastic Four]]'' (before they go back to prevent Ben's transformation to the Thing.) Reed is in contact with Sue and Johnny who are both in different time periods. Their communicators are apparently acting as a [[Portal to the Past]] for communication.
* Business as usual in [[Silver Age]] [[Legion of Super-Heroes (comics)|Legion of Super-Heroes]] stories.
* Business as usual in [[Silver Age]] [[Legion of Super-Heroes (comics)|Legion of Super-Heroes]] stories.
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{{quote|'''The Doctor:''' I'm no time travel expert, but can't we just call ''Voyager'' again? The past isn't going anywhere.}}
{{quote|'''The Doctor:''' I'm no time travel expert, but can't we just call ''Voyager'' again? The past isn't going anywhere.}}
** The episode "Endgame" has my favorite line about time: "'''Janeway''': Like they say in the Temporal Mechanics Department, there's no time like the present."
** The episode "Endgame" has my favorite line about time: "'''Janeway''': Like they say in the Temporal Mechanics Department, there's no time like the present."
* In ''[[Power Rangers Time Force]]'', the Rangers summon their [[Humongous Mecha|zords]] from the year 3000 when needed, and after a battle they return to the future. In one episode, the zords are damaged and have to be repaired in the future, preventing the Rangers from using them in the next episode. No explanation is given as to why they can't just summon the zords from 1000 years ''plus one week'' into the future, where they would be fully repaired.
* In ''[[Power Rangers Time Force]]'', the Rangers summon their [[Humongous Mecha|zords]] from the year 3000 when needed, and after a battle they return to the future. In one episode, the zords are damaged and have to be repaired in the future, preventing the Rangers from using them in the next episode. No explanation is given as to why they can't just summon the zords from 1000 years ''plus one week'' into the future, where they would be fully repaired.
** ''[[Power Rangers SPD]]'' is implied to somehow run parallel to 2004, meaning that there was a year without monster attacks since the monsters were in 2025. There's no indication that ''[[Power Rangers Mystic Force]]'' followed ''[[Power Rangers Dino Thunder]]'' without having SPD in the middle.
** ''[[Power Rangers SPD]]'' is implied to somehow run parallel to 2004, meaning that there was a year without monster attacks since the monsters were in 2025. There's no indication that ''[[Power Rangers Mystic Force]]'' followed ''[[Power Rangers Dino Thunder]]'' without having SPD in the middle.
* ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]'' does this whilst Hiro was in Feudal Era Japan, as well as when Peter is in the post-apocalyptic future.
* ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]'' does this whilst Hiro was in Feudal Era Japan, as well as when Peter is in the post-apocalyptic future.
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* The [[Time Splitters]] games: while it's an undeveloped [[Excuse Plot]] that ignores the details in 1 and 2, Future Perfect goes the whole hog complete with time-bending radio headsets.
* The [[Time Splitters]] games: while it's an undeveloped [[Excuse Plot]] that ignores the details in 1 and 2, Future Perfect goes the whole hog complete with time-bending radio headsets.
* ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages|Oracle of Ages]]'', have required Link to travel between the present and the past to solve puzzles. Some of this is done in [[Stable Time Loop]] fashion, but there are rampant absurdities too. For instance, in ''Oracle of Ages'', you can move seeds in the past to move the resulting vines in the present...''as many times as you want''. Not to mention the absurd tower that gets more constructed in the Present as it's built...in...the...past?
* ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages|Oracle of Ages]]'', have required Link to travel between the present and the past to solve puzzles. Some of this is done in [[Stable Time Loop]] fashion, but there are rampant absurdities too. For instance, in ''Oracle of Ages'', you can move seeds in the past to move the resulting vines in the present...''as many times as you want''. Not to mention the absurd tower that gets more constructed in the Present as it's built...in...the...past?
** That tower actually has [[Year Inside, Hour Outside|time stopped]] around it, as the workers are instructed to keep building until [[Loophole Abuse|the sun goes down]].
** That tower actually has [[Year Inside, Hour Outside|time stopped]] around it, as the workers are instructed to keep building until [[Loophole Abuse|the sun goes down]].
** Meanwhile, the events of ''Ocarina Of Time'' actually created three divergent timelines, which later games were set in.
** Meanwhile, the events of ''Ocarina Of Time'' actually created three divergent timelines, which later games were set in.
* ''[[Legacy of Kain]]: Defiance'' has the story spilt between two characters that are in different time periods. Near the end they do eventfully end up in the same time period but as Kain is immortal it makes you wonder why he even cares about waiting for 100 years to meet up.
* ''[[Legacy of Kain]]: Defiance'' has the story spilt between two characters that are in different time periods. Near the end they do eventfully end up in the same time period but as Kain is immortal it makes you wonder why he even cares about waiting for 100 years to meet up.
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* [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic CD]] made use of it as well. It even gave a 'Good Future' bonus when you beat Robotnik/Eggman.
* [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic CD]] made use of it as well. It even gave a 'Good Future' bonus when you beat Robotnik/Eggman.
* In ''[[Prince of Persia|Prince of Persia: Warrior Within]]'', the Prince uses time portals dotted around the castle on the Island of Time to get past broken down areas, activate devices that create paths for him in his own time and generally messes with the timeline to survive.
* In ''[[Prince of Persia|Prince of Persia: Warrior Within]]'', the Prince uses time portals dotted around the castle on the Island of Time to get past broken down areas, activate devices that create paths for him in his own time and generally messes with the timeline to survive.
** Of course, messing with the timeline is what got him in that situation to begin with.
** Of course, messing with the timeline is what got him in that situation to begin with.
** This trope is expressly referenced early in the game. Shahdee says that Prince have reached the island, despite that she's in the Past, several hundred years before the fact.
** This trope is expressly referenced early in the game. Shahdee says that Prince have reached the island, despite that she's in the Past, several hundred years before the fact.
* As good as the story of [[Mario & Luigi: Partners In Time]] may have been, its time-travel system was rather absurd. First, there's the fact that time seems to pass in the Present while you're in the Past and vice versa, like they were separated realms, though this can probably be explained by the whole [[Portal to the Past]] thing. Second, the Mushroom Kingdom was taken over by the Shroobs in the past, leaving the Kingdom in the Present.... completely UNAFFECTED! Some might see this as a result of a [[Stable Time Loop]], as Mario and Luigi defeat the Shroobs anyway, but that leads into a Paradox, since they can only defeat them because Present Mushroom Kingdom was free from the Shroob in the first place. Also, they are changing E.Gadd's past heavily... with the only result being him inventing some gadget. E. Gadd [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshades]] this trope by noting how paradoxical it is.
* As good as the story of [[Mario & Luigi: Partners In Time]] may have been, its time-travel system was rather absurd. First, there's the fact that time seems to pass in the Present while you're in the Past and vice versa, like they were separated realms, though this can probably be explained by the whole [[Portal to the Past]] thing. Second, the Mushroom Kingdom was taken over by the Shroobs in the past, leaving the Kingdom in the Present.... completely UNAFFECTED! Some might see this as a result of a [[Stable Time Loop]], as Mario and Luigi defeat the Shroobs anyway, but that leads into a Paradox, since they can only defeat them because Present Mushroom Kingdom was free from the Shroob in the first place. Also, they are changing E.Gadd's past heavily... with the only result being him inventing some gadget. E. Gadd [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshades]] this trope by noting how paradoxical it is.
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{{quote|'''Casey''': [[Lampshade Hanging|This just keeps not making sense!]]}}
{{quote|'''Casey''': [[Lampshade Hanging|This just keeps not making sense!]]}}
* Avoided in ''[http://www.tru-lifeadventures.com TRU-Life Adventures]. Old Bob's multiple appearances in the present have not been shown in his own personal chronological order.
* Avoided in ''[http://www.tru-lifeadventures.com TRU-Life Adventures]. Old Bob's multiple appearances in the present have not been shown in his own personal chronological order.
* ''[[8-Bit Theater (Webcomic)|8-bit Theater]]'' gives us "Meanwhile, at the beginning of time" when White Mage is sent back in time and starts creation.
* ''[[8-Bit Theater|8-bit Theater]]'' gives us "Meanwhile, at the beginning of time" when White Mage is sent back in time and starts creation.
* [http://www.byrobot.net/?cid=043.jpg Used and discussed in this Byrobot "Sally and Thumb: Urchins in Goner-Town" strip.]
* [http://www.byrobot.net/?cid=043.jpg Used and discussed in this Byrobot "Sally and Thumb: Urchins in Goner-Town" strip.]
* A running gag of sorts in [[MS Paint Adventures]]' latest series, ''[[Homestuck]]''.
* A running gag of sorts in [[MS Paint Adventures]]' latest series, ''[[Homestuck]]''.
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* ''[[Wolverine and the X-Men]]'' seems to use this trope. The "hunters" appear in the same episode Wolverine get kidnapped and analyzed, every time Wolverine tries to contact Prof X he's ''always'' a bit further in his own personal timeline, and the season finale happens at the same time as the people in the future fight Master Mold and the past gets changed.
* ''[[Wolverine and the X-Men]]'' seems to use this trope. The "hunters" appear in the same episode Wolverine get kidnapped and analyzed, every time Wolverine tries to contact Prof X he's ''always'' a bit further in his own personal timeline, and the season finale happens at the same time as the people in the future fight Master Mold and the past gets changed.
* [[Justice League]]'s Vandal Savage must have his own [[Timey-Wimey Ball|field of time]] around him, as this happens repeatedly and inconsistently. Noticeable at the end of the episode ''Hereafter''.
* [[Justice League]]'s Vandal Savage must have his own [[Timey-Wimey Ball|field of time]] around him, as this happens repeatedly and inconsistently. Noticeable at the end of the episode ''Hereafter''.
** This might be justified in his case. (Or [[Magic A Is Magic A|as justified as any]] [[Time Travel]] trope is, at least...) At various times it has been a rule in the DC universe, and the [[Diniverse]] might use this as well, that the same person can't travel through time to a period in which another version of that person exists. If they do, the time-traveling version is [[Intangible Time Travel|intangible]] and invisible. But Vandal Savage is immortal and exists for ''all'' of humanity's history and future. This makes direct time travel impossible for him (although there are ways to do whatever he wants indirectly), so [[Mental Time Travel]] is the only option, and a phenomenon he's prepared for and used to, and no doubt there are other tricks that could be used. This rule is explicitly stated by Savage in "Hereafter", but is ignored in other parts of the DCAU, including two episodes of ''[[Static Shock]]'' and the [[Justice League Unlimited]] two-parter "The Once and Future Thing".
** This might be justified in his case. (Or [[Magic A Is Magic A|as justified as any]] [[Time Travel]] trope is, at least...) At various times it has been a rule in the DC universe, and the [[Diniverse]] might use this as well, that the same person can't travel through time to a period in which another version of that person exists. If they do, the time-traveling version is [[Intangible Time Travel|intangible]] and invisible. But Vandal Savage is immortal and exists for ''all'' of humanity's history and future. This makes direct time travel impossible for him (although there are ways to do whatever he wants indirectly), so [[Mental Time Travel]] is the only option, and a phenomenon he's prepared for and used to, and no doubt there are other tricks that could be used. This rule is explicitly stated by Savage in "Hereafter", but is ignored in other parts of the DCAU, including two episodes of ''[[Static Shock]]'' and the [[Justice League Unlimited]] two-parter "The Once and Future Thing".
* In An episode of [[Extreme Ghostbusters]], Kylie, through a time slip, ends up in a [[Bad Future]] where ghosts run rampant and the Ghostbusters are all dead (but remembered as heroes) while a guy from that time ends up in the present day. The episode cuts back and forth between Kylie in the future and the rest of the Ghostbusters in the present, making it seem like everything is happening simultaneously.
* In An episode of [[Extreme Ghostbusters]], Kylie, through a time slip, ends up in a [[Bad Future]] where ghosts run rampant and the Ghostbusters are all dead (but remembered as heroes) while a guy from that time ends up in the present day. The episode cuts back and forth between Kylie in the future and the rest of the Ghostbusters in the present, making it seem like everything is happening simultaneously.


Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Meanwhile_in_the_Future"