Not So Dire: Difference between revisions

Several characters appear to have a slightly cryptic conversation about how troublesome and dire their circumstances are. The cameras remain close to their faces, so the viewer gets a full view of their agonization, and sees the sweat dripping down the face. However, once a decision has been painfully accomplished, it's revealed that the characters are in no significant danger, but are just taking something mundane far too [[Serious Business|seriously]]. Board games are possibly the most common example as they allow discussion of tactics or how to spend resources, but there are plenty of other examples.

 

 

See [[Trick Dialogue]], where the participants of the conversation aren't who we think they are. See also [[Reveal Shot]]. Compare [[Anticlimax Cut]].

 

== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==

 

== [[Comic Books]] ==

** Later on, Michael and Jack are seen having a troubled discussion about how their game of golf is going. (Somewhat ruined by the fact that they were last seen ''on'' the golf course only a few minutes ago).

** In "The Shape of Things to Come" Hurley worries about how their enemy is making them fight amongst themselves, and that there's no way they'll survive. It's then revealed that they're playing ''Risk''.

* Occurs at various points in ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'':

** "Hell's Bells" begins with Buffy and Willow, accompanied by [[Dramatic Thunder]], discussing how horrible "that thing with the arms" is. It turns out they're discussing the dresses they're supposed to wear for a friend's wedding.

** And one where [[Proud Warrior Race Guy|The Groosalugg]] takes Angel aside, very seriously reminds him of their long history as champions for everything good and the many battles they've fought together, and begs Angel to just this once consider his advice:

{{quote| Pomegranate Mist is the wrong colour for this room.}}

* In the American version of ''[[The Office]]'', the Samford branch's boss angrily enters the room while the team is playing ''Call of Duty'', calling Jim and Andy into a meeting to criticize them. After a few seconds, it becomes clear that the meeting is about their Call of Duty performance.

* A ''[[MASH the Series|M*A*S*H]]'' episode opens with the camera panning from one grim-faced character to another. It finally settles on Hawkeye, who asks for a knife (implying that some important surgical procedure is about to take place)...before the "operation" is revealed to be the cutting of a birthday cake in the mess tent.

== [[Literature]] ==

* [[Discworld]], of course!

* In ''Faith of the Fallen'' in the ''[[Sword of Truth]]'' series, one chapter, following a timeskip, has Richard and Kahlan locked in a swordfight with one another, with the narration treating it like a battle to the death...until Kahlan scores a hit and it turns out they're using wooden swords for practice.

 

* ''[[The Simpsons]]'' features Chief Wiggum and the other cops walking into the police station with what appears to be an arrested criminal (hidden from sight). They utter phrases like 'I can't wait to get a piece of you' and 'You think you're so hot? Well, we've got everything we need on you'. It turns out that they were talking to a pizza.

** Homer's [[Jury Duty]] episode ends with him telling Marge about how everyone was against him in that jury room, but he stood by the courage of his convictions and he prevailed - and that's why they had Chinese food for lunch.

* In the opener of one ''[[Kim Possible]]'' episode, an alligator closes in on her and snaps its jaws shut. The dreadful consequences: Kim has to resort to buying a replacement pair of pants at [[Expy|Smarty Mart]].

** Another episode has the opening fight end with Kim caught in a hot steam blast. Quick cut to Ron desperately asking how bad it is, and Kim's mom pronouncing the situation hopeless. Pull back to reveal that the they're talking about Kim's torn pants.