Rule of Three: Difference between revisions

[[File:triforce2.jpg|link=The Legend of Zelda|frame|[[Dirty Harry|I know what you're thinking:]] [[Comically Missing the Point|is that three triangles or five?]]]]

 

''Good things come in threes. So do bad things. And even things that are neither good nor bad.'' }}

 

* Characters in ''Sláine'' constantly refer to things in groups of three - three great silences, three sorrows, etc.

* The irreducible simplicity of Ernie Bushmiller's ''Nancy'' depends in part on the principle of "the three rocks".

 

 

* ''[[Monty Python and The Holy Grail]]'': "Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see....". For bonus points, the trope is subverted four times; the first time, the three questions are all easy, so the knight easily crosses. The second knight unexpectedly receives a third, difficult question which results in his death, while the third knight unexpectedly gets an easy question again but fails to answer it correctly and dies. On the final set of questions, King Arthur subverts it again by asking a question back to the bridgekeeper, resulting in the ''bridgekeeper's'' death.

** Possibly five times, as instead of the usual three knights/questioners/Billy Goats Gruff, there's three plus Arthur.

Three! }}

** Additionally "...then thou shalt count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out."

* ''[[Run Lola Run]]'' loops three times through the same series of events, with [[Butterfly Effect|minor to snowballing changes]] in each iteration.

* Sherman Klump is asked a Triple in ''[[The Nutty Professor]]'' remake:

* When [[Goldfinger]] tries to kill [[James Bond (film)|James Bond]] with the industrial laser, he tells him, "The reason for our first two meetings is now clear to me. I do not intend to be distracted by a third."

* ''[[The Dark Knight]]''. The Joker twice does the "Do you know how I got these scars on my face?" line in a prelude to doing something nasty. The third time he's got Batman pinned.

'''Batman:''' No, but I know how you'll get these! ''(shoots his forearm blades into the Joker's face)'' }}

* Showing that it's not always good, it's used in ''[[Triumph of the Will]]'', and [[Homage|later]], as a heroic example, ''[[Star Wars]]''.

== Jokes ==

* A joke in 2009 uses the [[Rule of Three]] to explain the three close celebrity deaths that year.

Michael Jackson was surprised to find himself in heaven, but even more surprised that he was once again black. "Saint Peter," he said, "I worked pretty hard to lighten my skin over the years. Can you fix it?" Half an hour later [[Billy Mays]] arrived in heaven with some OxiClean. }}

* Jokes in general tend to make very heavy use of the [[Rule of Three]], especially those following the "Blonde/Brunette/Redhead" or "Nationality/Nationality/Nationality" formula.

** It's also the command for ''Gay Deceiver'' to store an instruction in permanent memory in ''[[The Number of the Beast]]'' (1980), by [[Robert A. Heinlein]].

*** Based on the design philosophy that any machine or computer your life depends on should have triple redundant failsafes. The 'tell you three times' protocol was admittedly a lazy shorthand in violation of his own principle. Zeb demonstrated himself what a bad practice it was by using it to execute commands faster than they can be given consideration, whereas three honestly separate steps may have prevented him from jumping the gun.

** A story by Raymond F. Jones in the February 1951 issue of Astounding Science Fiction was titled "I Tell You Three Times", and related to computer controls. Could this be the source of the two uses above?

*** Possibly, although ''[[The Hunting of the Snark]]'' has been a recurring motif throughout sci-fi; for instance, the [[Alien (franchise)|Nostromo]] was originally going to be called the "Snark".

** There are also nine Nazgul. Nine is thrice three, and a very important number in [[Norse Mythology]].

* Dennis Dutton might have some good points about the flaws in Christopher Booker's ''[[The Seven Basic Plots]]''[http://denisdutton.com/booker_review.htm\], but he really shows his ignorance of tropes when he tries to attack Booker's use of the [[Rule of Three]]:

* In ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'' by [[Charles Dickens]], the Ghost of Christmas Past and the Ghost of Christmas Present do not change Scrooge's mind. It is the third ghost, the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Be, who convinces Scrooge to change his ways.

** Not entirely true. By the end of the Ghost of Christmas Present's visit, Scrooge is shown a pair of [[Street Urchin|street urchins]] freezing to death and shows compassion for them, only to have his earlier harsh words thrown back in his face. The [[Rule of Three]] still applies to the story structure, though.

* In [[Dan Abnett]]'s [[Gaunt's Ghosts]] novel ''Only In Death'', "A traditional Tanith toast took three parts." So Larkin and Rawne toast "Old Ghosts," "Staying alive," and "Ibram Gaunt".

* In the classic [[MS Ting]] of [[The Eye of Argon]], [http://www.bmsc.washington.edu/people/merritt/books/Eye_of_Argon.html Mike and the bots] riff:

* In one of [[Mercedes Lackey]]'s novels, a new magic user of Native American heritage was surprised he had to do something 4 times where the Europeans were equally bound to do the same thing 3 times. The 4 directions, donchaknow!

* ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'' didn't stop at the title for this one:

* In ''Master of Five Magics'' and its sequals, sorcerers must recite a spell three times to make it work, and each recitation is more difficult to enunciate than the last.

* [[Twilight]] gives us this memorable gem:

* In [[Devon Monk]]'s ''[[Age of Steam|Dead Iron]]'', LeFel tries to invoke this on Jeb Lindson -- he shouldn't have to kill him more than three times.

 

* It seems like standard procedure for the parents in a [[Dom Com]] to have three children. ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'' (twice over,) ''[[Growing Pains (TV)|Growing Pains]]'', ''[[Home Improvement]]'', ''[[Roseanne]]'', ''[[The Nanny]]'', ''[[Full House]]'', ''[[Reba]]'' all involve the three children of the protagonists. The common reason seems to be that it covers all bases; the oldest can have typical teen problems (dating, driving, etc.), the middle can have the kid problems (first day of school, etc.), and the youngest can either sit and look cute or say random funny things. The big reason for the [[Cousin Oliver]] is to bring in another cute one when the child actors have the audacity to age and upset this delicate balance.

* Demonstrated extensively on ''[[The Daily Show]]''; subverted at least once.

* Humorously subverted by Johnny Carson on one episode of the Johnny Carson Show.

* "Hi, I'm Larry. This is my brother Daryl, and this is my other brother Daryl."

* When [[Tina Fey]] hosted ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', she was coached on acting by guest star Steve Martin, who slapped her early in the monologue for her self-doubt, then slapped her again later just for fun, and then one more time immediately afterwards.

'''Steve:''' No, that was the Comedy Rule of Three. }}

* ''[[Star Trek]]'' captains (especially Picard) would frequently list off [[Famous, Famous, Fictional|three examples of some well-known cultural phenomenon]]. Typically, two of them would be what we would consider "classic" examples, and one would be either contemporary to us, or alien. For example, he might say, "Ah, yes, the great poets of history; William Shakespeare, Walt Whitman, Zyglorty Mospiqxot of T'pingnit." Or, "I've always been interested in classical music; Bach, Beethoven, the Beatles." (''[[Red Dwarf]]'' did this precise gag with "Mendelssohn, Mozart, Motorhead".)

** This tendency wasn't lost on the writers of ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'', who'd spoof it on a regular basis.

*** One episode of ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation|Star Trek the Next Generation]] features this joke from a man claiming to be a historian from the 26th century. Talking to Geordi, he mentions several blind artists by surname, ending with (Stevie) Wonder. On rewatching this episode, one realises that this is meant to be a clue that he isn't from the future but from the 200 years in the past.

*** When ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation|Star Trek the Next Generation]]'' the Enterprise got caught in a time loop, [[Groundhog Day Loop|reliving the same day over and over]] -- and that day always ended with the destruction of the Enterprise. Eventually they caught onto this and decided to program a message into Data's brain to be sent back into the rift on the next iteration, and hopefully help them avoid the collision that got them caught in the rift in the first place. During the next go-round, the number three continually appeared throughout the day (Data was subconsciously repeating the pattern) until the time of the collision came again. Left with two choices about how to avoid the accident (one suggested by Data, and one by Commander Riker), they noticed that ''three'' could refer to the number of rank insignia on Commander Riker's lapel. Therefore Riker's was the right idea, not Data's.

** (knock knock knock) Leonard and Penny! (knock knock knock) Leonard and Penny! (knock knock knock) Leonard and Penny!

** Another ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'' example, when Sheldon saved Leonard from a rocket fuel explosion in the elevator.

* [[Professional Wrestling]] is fond of this in some forms, ranging from the 'Triple Threat' match (3 fighters) to audience chants; one of the most popular is to match 3 syllables (e.g. 'R V D! R V D!' for Rob Van Dam). The other popular chant format? Four syllables and five claps ('You're a loser!' * * *** ), which adds up to nine.

* Countless game shows have three contestants per episode. ''[[Jeopardy!]]'' and ''[[Wheel of Fortune]]'' are the best known.

* The three presenters on ''[[Top Gear]]''. This works well, as two of them can set up a pattern and the third can break it [[Rule of Funny|for humor]].

* Lampsaded on an episode of ''[[NCIS]]'': McGee is saying reasons for something

'''Director Vance:''' There is always a third. }}

* And [[Discussed Trope|discussed]] on ''[[NCIS: Los Angeles]]'', when Deeks makes the requisite "Gesundheit" joke after someone says a weird-sounding German name...twice, and the others all just stare at him.

** {{spoiler|Sure enough, it came up a third time, and Callen seemed to think it ''was'' good.}}

* ''[[Gilmore Girls]]'': I wish my mom would let me have a car... or a bike... or my roller skates back.

* In an early season of ''[[Walker, Texas Ranger]]'', in the first episode of the season, Walker corners the bad guy at the end of the episode. The bad guy turns and faces Walker, assumes a "karate stance" and makes a "karate yell". Walker beats him up. In the next episode, different bad guy, same ending. In the third episode, same ending except just when you are saying "this is getting a bit old", Walker drops his shoulders, sighs and says "Not another karate guy."

* ''[[Community]]'' has Britta's one-time boyfriend Vaughn, who always says hello three different ways.

** This is then [[Lampshaded]] by the study group, who start to count his greetings on their fingers whenever they see him.

* ''[[iCarly]]'' uses this extensively. In ''iSaved Your Life'':

'''Mrs. Benson''': "I soaked them in bleach and then pounded them with a mallet!" }}

** In ''iQuit iCarly'', after Sam & Carly have been pulled inside the building, they burst into tears and Spencer turns them to face one another so that they hug, whilst Fleck & Dave do the same thing. Spencer & Freddie look at each other & shrug, before hugging

* ''[[Wizard Of Earthsea]]'': the wizard Ged knows the Dragon's true name and has Power over him.

Dragon: Yes, you do. Now you have two questions left. }}

* The 2nd ''[[Criminal Minds]]'' episode, "Compulsion", features a serial arsonist/murderer driven by an obsessive-compulsive disorder that forces her to repeat things in sets of three. When (pretty arbitrary) patterns of threes emerge around her it triggers her to start her next round of arson and murder.

* [[Weezer]] has three self-titled albums, called Blue, Green, and Red [[Fan Nickname|by fans]].

* The ending of the ''2112 Suite'' by Rush:

We have assumed control.]] }}

** Even Rush itself is an example (Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Neil Peart)

* The song "Threes" by [[Mercedes Lackey]] and [[Leslie Fish]] is built on this trope.

* As is the song "Three" by Massive Attack.

And fortune comes in threes }}

* "Sometime Around Midnight" by The Airborne Toxic Event ends with a Rule of ''Five''. This functions as a bit of [[Painting the Fourth Wall]]; the listener is ''expecting'' this trope to be in effect, and the fourth repetition surprises them, possibly even making them a little uncomfortable. In fact, they might think they misheard, until the fifth repetition underlines it. It might even be somewhat discomfiting. Which makes sense, as the singer is certainly disturbed.

[[Subverted Trope|You just have to see her]]<br />

You just have to see her<br />

You know that she'll break you in two }}

* ''Party In The USA'' by [[Miley Cyrus]]:

And the Jay-Z song was on }}

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtiQ3X6-Q2w&feature=related Scherzo] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPKzQhvI3_U&feature=related Tarantella] -- It's ALL in triplet patterns.

* [[Cyrano De Bergerac]]: This trope is combined with and [[Department of Redundancy Department]]: The gratuitous repetition of a question or a gesture for three or more times are shown in the play:

** [[Played for Laughs]]: At Act I Montfleury tries to say his lines four times, Cyrano orders him to disappear when Cyrano clap his hands the third time, the bore asks Cyrano three times if he has a protector. Lampshaded by Cyrano when he does not answer a three time:

** [[Played for Drama]]: At Act II, Cyrano asks three times Roxana what she would do if Christian is not as eloquent as fair, she answers two times that being fair, he has to be eloquent, and the third time she invokes [[Driven to Suicide]]. At Act IV, Cyrano asks Roxane if she would love Christian, even if he would be ugly, three times. She answered yes every time.

* In [[William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Julius Caesar]]'', Marc Anthony speaks at Caesar's funeral:

Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition? }}

** During this speech, he also says "Brutus is an honorable man" three times. A fourth time he just says, "And sure he is an honorable man", by which time he's in full [[Sarcasm Mode]].

* ''[[Heavy Weapon]]'' gives you three lives per level, allows you to have a maximum of three [[Smart Bomb|Nukes]] and three levels of [[Deflector Shields]], and you can upgrade your equipment to a maximum of three levels.

* ''[[Portal 2]]'' gives us this example:

Chapter title shown: The Part Where He Kills You. }}

** There's also the achievement, but it doesn't appear on subsequent playthroughs, making it three.

* ''[[Bob and George]]'' [http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/001105c With commentary explaining why two failures and a success make a good pattern.] [http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/001113c And again here.]

** Also, three strips in a row of thought bubbles when carrying out a plan hatched by [[Dumbass Has a Point|Bass]], all of which ended in them questioning the wisdom of taking tactical advice from the resident [[The Ditz|ditz]]. Summarised version:

'''Bass''': [pause] I like ice cream. [Pause] When did they start listening to ''me''? }}

* ''[[Derelict (webcomic)|Derelict]]'' [http://derelictcomic.com/?strip_id=12 The main character ponders them, related to survival: three minutes without air, three days without water, three months without food.] Then she wonders if she got it right. (Not exactly: three weeks without food is the rule.)

* [[Red vs. Blue]]'s "Son of a bitch!" running gag is usually done in threes, occasionally twisted with Spanish-speaking robot Lopez's "Madre de dios," subtitled as "Son of a bitch!"

** Also, when Simmons and Grif are facing down the tank in Season 1:

'''Simmons:''' two. . . three! * turns around, sees Grif already far away* Oh, you backstabbing cockbite. }}

* In the [http://www.19nocturneboulevard.net/ 19 Nocturne Boulevard] episode ''Sword Kvetch'', Cael must face the evil wizard's three challenges. Why? Tradition!

* [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] in Episode 4 of [[Cracked.com|Cracked TV]] (5 Things You Shouln't Be Able to Buy on eBay):

* Played straight in [[Harry Partridge|Harry Partridge's]] ''Stephen the Lesbian''.

"All hail Stephen, king of the Lesbians!"<br />

"All hail [[Stephen King]]! *[[Beat]]* Of the Lesbians!"<br />

* Averted on ''[[Extreme Ghostbusters]]''. "On the count of three." "Three!"

* In one episode of ''[[Freakazoid]]'', the titular character is picked up by a holographic pterodactyl and dropped from an extreme height, and he screams for help every time he falls. Lampshaded the third time when he and the Lobe fall together:

'''Freakazoid:''' [[Rule of Funny|Cuz it's funny!]]<br />

'''The Lobe:''' No it's not, it's just stupid! It's as dumb as that Handman episode! }}

* ''[[South Park]]'': "Biggie Smalls. Biggie Smalls. Biggie Smalls."

** South Park also did it in the Imaginationland episode:

"Sector Two??" }}

** Cartman then jumps in through a window. The second time the above dialogue occurs, Cartman again jumps in through the shoddily repaired window. The third time it happens, Kyle jumps in through the remnants of the window, causing the general to exclaim, "Why is it so easy for children to break into the Pentagon?!"

* Lampshaded in an episode of ''[[Drawn Together]]'', when Wooldor describes what his television show will do. In his words, it will "Entertain kids, annoy adults, and funny third thing!"

* Also [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshaded]] in the ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]'' [[The Movie|Movie]], during Spongebob's speech at the end of the film:

* ''[[The Critic]]'' uses the same joke in this case: To prove to Jay that he's being repetitive, his boss Duke shows him a video of him hosting his show ''Coming Attractions'', [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPBTE0wlZF4 but with the screen split into thirds.]

* Examples from [[Speak of the Devil]] include the ''[[Freakazoid]]'' "Huggbees", ''[[Beetlejuice (animation)|Beetlejuice]]''.

* Combined with [[Inherently Funny Words]] in ''[[The PJs]]''. Thurgood is [[It Makes Sense in Context|working on a stand-up act]] and the book he got on how to be funny says things in three are funny as well as words with a hard k in them (like knish, tukas, fakakta). He logically assumes then that the funniest thing ever [[Refuge in Audacity|is KKK]].