39,327
edits
Possession Implies Mastery: Difference between revisions
m
Mass update links
m (Mass update links) |
m (Mass update links) |
||
Line 10:
This fallacy is often reinforced by [[Mr. Fixit]], who generally can adapt any piece of technology he gets his hands on to do whatever the plot calls for -- especially if he's a [[Technopath]].
Compare [[Instant Expert]]. Contrast [[Cargo Cult]], [[Clarke's Third Law]], [[Scavenger World]] (where people forgot how to make a lot of things [[After the End]]), [[How Do I Shot Web?]] (the inverse of this trope with superpowers), [[You Shouldn't Know This Already]] (which stops gamers from using something they have before they learn how in-game), [[Low Culture, High Tech]] (where the this is not the case for a low tech culture using high tech gadgets), [[Black Box]] and [[Loyal Phlebotinum]].
Has nothing to do with [[Demonic Possession]] (although one might wonder how easy it is for demons to work out how to use their hosts' bodies...)
Line 25:
* In ''[[Bleach]]'', this is quite the opposite for pretty much anyone with spirit abilities. Especially captains, no matter how much of a genius they're stated to be. Which explains just why characters like Ichigo and Toushiro can keep getting pretty much curb-stomped, despite their power levels and genius. They have it -- doesn't mean they have mastered it yet. Kubo seems to take great pleasure in avoiding this trope.
** Kenpachi Zaraki is the best example of subverting this trope. He owns a zanpakuto... but to him, it's just a normal sword. He makes up for the lack of zanpakuto abilities with monstrous strength and spiritual pressure. Similarly, lesser shinigami have zanpakuto without abilities, but it's implied that for most shinigami, gaining the abilities simply comes with time and effort, leading to a increase in rank and power.
* A lot of characters in ''[[Code Geass]]'' seem to be able to pilot [[Mini
* Heavily averted in ''[[Gantz]]''. The main protagonist (among others) are given special combat suits and weaponry, but they have literally no idea of how they work until they figure it out by trial-and-error.
* Usually averted in ''[[One Piece]]'' with the Devil Fruits, but not so much for Kaku and Kalifa. While being top-ranked assassins with all sorts of cool superpowers, they were given Devil Fruits to be even tougher. Only a few hours later do they appear having nearly complete mastery over their powers, with the exception of Kaku, who, while shifting forms, accidentally enters his animal form instead of his hybrid.
Line 35:
* Averted for most of the [[Blue Beetle]] legacy. The first one, Dan Garett, got powers from it by saying a magic word (ultimately revealed to be misusing it, and the magic likely damaged its true function). Then Ted Kord came into possession of the scarab but never got it to work, instead borrowing its motif for his costume and gadgets. It was only the third owner, Jaime Reyes, who had it work as intended - but he still hasn't mastered it; the scarab activated because ''it'' chose to, and he still argues with it over what to do at times.
* ''[[Ultimate X Men]]'' member Colossus lampshades this when Weapon X forces him to stop a train, pointing out that just because he's super strong doesn't mean he's strong enough to do this {{spoiler|though it turns out he is.}} Weapon X doesn't care.
** This being the Ultimate Universe, things aren't quite that simple though. {{spoiler|His initial warning is true, he ''doesn't'' have super strength; this was later proved to be a side effect of a [[Super Serum]] called [[Shout
*** Which brings up the [[Fridge Logic]] of {{spoiler|how Colossus still had his strength after weeks of captivity. But then, that will happen with a story about a drug made out of Wolverine.}}
* In a similar vain, a recent story looking back on the early days of [[Superman]]'s career shows that the man of steel knows he's strong and invulnerable but doesn't know how strong and invulnerable he is. He briefly panics when his lungs fill with lava while submerged.
Line 42:
* A little known UK movie called ''Morons from Outer Space'' plays with this trope, as the aliens who crash-land on Earth are assumed to be a higher order of intelligence. In point of fact, they are the interstellar equivalent of ignorant tourists who rented a camper and ended up running off the road in the wrong town.
* The heroes of the film ''[[Spaced Invaders]]'' are the most incompetent members of their race.
* In the ''[[Iron Man (Film)|Iron Man]]'' film, {{spoiler|Obadiah Stane}} pilots powered armor (that wasn't even made by him) for the first time and is immediately able to go toe to toe with Iron Man, who spent several ([[Amusing Injuries|hilarious]]) weeks practicing with his suit. Justified as {{spoiler|[[Foil|Stane]]}} planed to sell his [[Mini
{{quote| '''Iron Man''': [[Are These Wires Important|THIS looks important! * R-r-rip!* ]]}}
* In ''[[Pathfinder]]'', the hero grew up with a Viking sword, but his only practice with it appears to be occasionally swinging it around, alone, in forest clearings. When the Vikings show up again, he proves to be a skilled swordfighter.
Line 81:
* The title character in ''[[The Greatest American Hero]]'' received an [[Applied Phlebotinum]] powered [[Superhero]] suit at the start of the series, lost the instructions, and spent most of the series amusingly floundering about trying to figure out how to use it correctly.
* ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' tends to play with this trope fairly successfully on occasion. In one episode it's revealed that the SGC computers can't even interpret many of the Stargate's feedback signals, and others are disregarded on a routine basis in order to establish a connection. This is suggested to be a major contributing factor to the various mishaps of one type or another that have occurred when using the gate. Another episode introduces the Air Force's prototype hybrid fighter craft, combining standard Earth technology with that of Go'auld Gliders - which promptly goes wrong due to incomplete understanding of the alien technology incorporated in the design.
* [[Heroes (TV)|Sylar's]] [[Awesomeness By Analysis|base power]] inherently grants him this effect; as soon as he acquires a new ability, he instantly understands how to use it perfectly. Everyone else on the show suffers [[How Do I Shot Web?]] at first (Peter suffers it constantly).
* In ''[[Power Rangers]]'', this is pretty much the standard. Hand five people giant robots, watch them pilot them effortlessly, including the part where they merge into one giant robot, although many series with robotic zords have the combination process mostly automated and those with living zords simply ask them to do it for them (basically).
** Apparently, it's part of some Rangers' power sets: Billy, the first Blue Ranger, remarked "I actually know how to drive this thing!" [[Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue]] - the first series to be ''entirely'' divorced from what went before, even moreso than Lost Galaxy - turned away from this (as well as everything else about the previously half-magical ranger tech) and have the heads-up display in the helmets instruct the heroes on any new gadgetry.
** ''[[Power Rangers RPM]]''; the three starting Rangers had been Rangers for a while when we first saw them suited, and Dillon's enhanced abilities made him a fast learner and a superb fighter from day one. Ziggy, on the other hand, [[Falling Into the Cockpit]], is ''hilarious'' as we watch him try to get the hang of his gear. His first Zord battle winds up with him ''accidentally'' taking out several [[Mook]] vehicles by activating the spinning attack.
** Partially justified at the beginning of [[Samurai Sentai Shinkenger]] in that all of the characters have been training to carry on their family legacies. However it is averted slightly in the second episode. Ryuuonosuke knows ''about'' the [[Combining Mecha|Samurai Gattai]] but doesn't actually know what it does or how its done and winds up getting everyone to stack themselves up in a totem pole like formation.
* Averted in the ''[[
** Averted in the first few years of ''Doctor Who'' with the TARDIS. Part of Sydney Newman's original character brief was that he did not know how to steer his stolen timeship; however, in execution, it was a combination of "the Doctor didn't know how" and "the ship was already old"--this is why the Chameleon Circuit broke down in 1963 England. The TARDIS is also fully sentient and aware in eleven dimensions, so it always sends him where he needs to go instead of where he wants to go. The characteristic flight sound has also been revealed to be because he leaves the brake on.
* Modern ''[[Kamen Rider]]'' series tend to have a character just ''know'' how to use their Rider powers within seconds of obtaining the [[Transformation Trinket]] - including how to use the Trinket in the first place.
Line 154:
[[Category:Common Fan Fallacies]]
[[Category:Possession Implies Mastery]]
| |||