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Plague of Good Fortune: Difference between revisions
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The polar opposite of [[Kafka Komedy]].
Compare and contrast to [[Unwanted Harem]]. See also [[Gone Horribly Right]], where a character gets exactly what they wanted, only to realise that what they wanted wasn't in their own best interests.
{{examples}}
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* In ''[[My Balls]]'', each person has three peaks of luck in romantic endeavours. The protagonist has all three peaks combined into a period of extreme "luck" during the same month that his having sex would cause the destruction of the world.
* The ''[[Paranoia Agent]]'' episode "Happy Family Planning" has an odd version of this; its central characters repeatedly attempt suicide, only to fail every time. They eventually {{spoiler|discover they actually ''did'' die in one of their attempts and just didn't realize it.}}
* The protagonist of ''[[Sayonara, Zetsubou-sensei]]'' (or ''Goodbye, Mister Despair'') keeps trying to kill himself, only to have
* Whenever Tsunade in ''[[Naruto]]'' gets lucky at gambling, it's a bad omen. And she's quite aware of this.
** Needless to say, the ONE time she tries to use this to her advantage, by betting everything she had that one of her allies would die... [[Tear Jerker|She wins.]]
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** And then there's ''Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen''. Poor Stuffy Pete. You should ''know better'' than to wander into Greenwich Village in late November and expect not to be force-fed by the deranged inheritors of old money!
* Literary example: [[Genre Savvy|Rincewind]] in Terry Pratchett's ''[[Discworld]]'' books, who "knows" that this applies to him (and it [[Cosmic Plaything|often does]]).
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** While Sam Vimes thinks in one novel that the string of good luck he's had come his way the last few years (marriage to a good woman, massive wealth, a revitalized City Watch, a son) can't possibly last, and sooner or later the bill's gonna come due. {{spoiler|It hasn't. Yet.}}
*** Of course, he had forty years or so of bad luck to make up for by the time things started to go his way.
*** Well, let's face it- some people just don't know the difference between Karma setting them up for a fall and Karma balancing the scales.
* This is [[Older Than Feudalism]]: [[The Histories|Herodotus]] tells the story of the Greek king Polycrates who had such good luck that he threw a cherished ring in the ocean to try and balance things out, hoping to dodge whatever doom the gods had in store for him. The ring was eaten by a fish, the fish captured by a fisherman, and the ring returned to the king. This sealed his
* This actually does happen to [[The Deptford Mice|The Deptford Histories]] star Thomas Stubbs a.k.a. Thomas Triton. In the words of the fortune teller Simoon;
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* [[Ciaphas Cain]] (HERO OF THE IMPERIUM!!!) may qualify too. He frequently tries to keep himself safe and sound above all else, but this usually through good (or, on his part, bad) luck makes him look even more heroic and boosts his reputation even further, putting him in even more dangerous situations. Needless to say, that is the absolute opposite of what he is stiving for.
* Every time [[Honor Harrington]] gets a new satchel of medals, promotions, and fabulous cash prizes heaped on her, her first reaction is deep embarrassment at her own perceived unworthiness for them. Her second is darkly ruminating upon the possible political motives behind them.
* Steven Black manages to gain the attention of the Gentleman with the Thistle Down Hair in ''[[Jonathan Strange
* Teela Brown from ''Ringworld'' has been selectively bred for luck. Unfortunately, she hasn't been bred to bring luck to those around her. Her expedition crashes and is nearly stranded because '''she'll''' be happier there. The other characters spend the sequels carefully staying thousands of miles away from her.
* In ''[[Can You Forgive Her]]''? Anthony Trollope takes a very rich, very upper class, and young and spirited wife Glencora Palliser to a casino on the European mainland. A woman, and especially one of her elevated class, are expected to never actually gamble. She timidly bets a small amount and wins. Her husband, older and more staid, upbraids her for taking money that they didn't need and that wasn't theirs.
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** Wait a sec... he [[Memetic Mutation|failed at failing?]]
* The episode of ''Daria'' named either "Fail!" or "The 'F' Word" had Mr O'Neill, the English teacher, give an assignment where the students were supposed to fail. A variation of the failing at failing.
* An episode of ''[[Two Stupid Dogs]]'' had Little and Big Dog on a ''[[The Price Is Right]]'' type game show who were giving out dog treats as consolation prizes. Little Dog tries everything he can to lose the games but each attempt backfires and he keeps winning. Even trying to cheat does nothing. Thats right, he cheats to lose and still ends up winning.
* The B-plot of the [[King of the Hill]] episode "The Peggy Horror Picture Show" has Bobby and Joseph try and prank various folks around Arlen, but wind up making things better for them. In order:
** Drawing a line on a quarter with a marker, and having Dale, who was nervous about a coup at the gun club give himself a quarter massage, which leaves lines all over his face. When he arrives, his buddies assume its war paint, and immediately elect him president.
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[[Category:Older Than Feudalism]]
[[Category:Plots]]
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