Pinball Protagonist: Difference between revisions

* [[David Copperfield]] is a prime example from classical literature.

* ''[[The Stand]]'' may or may not have this trope, depending on what you see the main plot of the book as being. In terms of rebuilding society in the wake of an apocalyptic event, the [[Main Characters]] actually do quite a bit. In terms of fighting Randall Flagg, the [[Big Bad]] of the story, though, they accomplish virtually nothing; at best their role is to serve as witnesses to {{spoiler|his defeat by [[Deus Ex Machina|the Hand of God]]}} (with a little help from the [[Spanner in The Works|Trashcan Man]]). To be fair, [[Clap Your Hands If You Believe|A sacrifice was needed]].

* The ''[[Doc Savage]]'' novels pulled in involved bystanders to their plots to act as first person narrator protagonists assisted by the titular [[Heroic Archetype|Man of Bronze]].

* [[Lampshaded]] in [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Discworld (Literature)/Guards Guards|Guards Guards]]''. Although Sam Vimes and company play little part in the successful resolution of the novel {{spoiler|as the dragon is defeated by Errol the Swamp Dragon}}, the Patrician specifically states that people need to see there are heroes and so rewards Sam Vimes and the Night Watch accordingly. It is also implied that the Night Watch are heroic, merely because they actually did something to stand up to the dragon, even if unsuccessfully. {{spoiler|Vimes did also stop Wonse from killing the Patrician. While it's not the stuff of legends, saving the only competent ruler the city has had for decades is pretty important.}}

 

* There was a long period when virtually everyone on ''[[Lost (TV)|Lost]]'' was like this. They'd have little fits of trying to do something, only to be completely stymied, and then they'd go "Oh... no..." and sink back into frustrating helplessness. Early on, the show was mostly about introducing the various... erm... pinballs and the Island and there were many pinballs in play. Later on, the show began to conform to this trope less and less.

* In the ''[[Torchwood (TV)|Torchwood]]'' episode "[[Torchwood (TV)/Recap/S1 E5 Small Worlds|Small Worlds]]", the [[The Fair Folk|antagonists]] have supernatural powers which Torchwood have no ability to counter. As a result, throughout the episode Torchwood can do little more than rush to the site of the latest manifestation and helplessly watch events unfold.

 

== Theatre ==

 

** [[Oliver Twist|The book version]] is no more proactive.

** Because Christine is the protagonist. Raoul is just the love interest.

 

* Many story-heavy games with scripted events and [[Heroic Mime|heroic mimes]].

** Jack from ''[[Bio Shock]]'' is an excellent example -- not only does he rarely speak, he also plays a nearly negligible role in the story for most of the game. It turns out to be a deconstruction, however. {{spoiler|Jack is literally mind-controlled. And he ends up killing not only Andrew Ryan, but Fontaine as well. And saves the little sisters, or damns them! Pretty good, and the last one is up to the players which.}}

** Most however just accept it as a simple narrative convention and focus on the gameplay.

* Likewise, many games set during wars with a modern military influence, particularly combat simulators like [[Mechwarrior]] and [[Free Space]]. Even if you have a character with a personality, you're still one small speck of a very big situation, and the important decisions just aren't up to you.

[[Category:Characters As Device]]

[[Category:Pinball Protagonist]]