The Millennium Trilogy: Difference between revisions

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* [[A Man Is Not a Virgin]]: Mikael.

* [[Ambiguous Disorder]]: Lisbeth. Mikael, on the subject of her photographic memory, pattern recognition skills, general brilliance and absolute asociality, thinks to himself, "Asperger's syndrome, or something like that. " He then goes on to state that for every trait that Asperger's would explain about Lisbeth, there are symptoms that don't fit at all - while Asperger's has a high memory rate for obsessions, that only applies to obsessions, and high-functioning Aspies tend to tune out a lot of stimulus. And her propensity towards what her boxing partner calls "Terminator Mode"(seemingly total passivity right until an arbitrary point is breached, followed by focused and unrelenting violence), sounds a lot like PTSD - again except the "passive" stage. In a stable environment Lisbeth would have eventually grown up to be... {{spoiler|''[[In the Blood|a damned good spy.]]''}}

* [[Anti Hero]]: Lisbeth is a Type IV. Mikael is a Type II. While being a compassionate idealist, he doesn't shy away from bending several laws to expose corruption.

* [[Anti-Hero]]: Lisbeth is a Type IV. Mikael is a Type II. While being a compassionate idealist, he doesn't shy away from bending several laws to expose corruption.

* [[And That's Terrible]]: Every few pages, leading the reader to wonder how everyone in Sweden isn't jaded beyond the point of no return.

* [[Ass Shove]]: Lisbeth does this to her social worker when she rapes him, as payback for what he did to her. In the American film, she even kicks the toy up there.

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* [[Berserk Button]]: Lisbeth only has a few people she really cares about, but attacking one of them presses this. Shooting yourself in the head will usually be less painful than what she'll do to you. And if you abuse a woman or child and Lisbeth finds out about it, she'll do everything in her power to ruin your life. And mentioning the name "Lisbeth Salander" to one particular guy {{spoiler|named Zalachenko}} guarantees a ''lot'' of fucked up shit will happen just so he can try and get revenge on her.

* [[Bi the Way]]: Lisbeth has two lovers she treats seriously, and one of them is a woman.

* [[Black and Grey Morality]]: Even the likeable characters come dangerously close to being [[Well Intentioned Extremist|Well Intentioned Extremists]] at times, especially Lisbeth. However, the way the good guys are portrayed in the book makes it clear that Larsson sees them more of an example of

* [[Black and Grey Morality]]: Even the likeable characters come dangerously close to being [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|Well Intentioned Extremists]] at times, especially Lisbeth. However, the way the good guys are portrayed in the book makes it clear that Larsson sees them more of an example of

* [[Black and White Morality]]: good guys who've been mistreated (or are on the side of those who've been mistreated) taking revenge against their abusers.

* [[Blind Idiot Translation]]: The English translation takes huge liberties with the text, and only a few can be explained by [[~~Hanlons~~ Razor|Hanlon's razor]].

* [[Blind Idiot Translation]]: The English translation takes huge liberties with the text, and only a few can be explained by [[Hanlon's Razor|Hanlon's razor]].

* [[Boom Headshot]]: Averted. {{spoiler|Lisbeth}} is shot in the head, but survives. The doctor's speculate however that if the round had been bigger than a .22, she wouldn't have.

* [[Bondage Is Bad]]: Changed between books and films; it's bad in ''Dragon Tattoo'' {{spoiler|when Bjurman ties Lisbeth up and rapes her}}, but Lisbeth freely lets Miriam tie her up gently when they meet in ''Played With Fire''. In the ''Played With Fire'' movie, Lisbeth all but states that you would only be into bondage as a top if you were a sadistic pig and a rapist, but at the time she is talking ''to a rapist'', so it all evens out.

* [[Bread Eggs Milk Squick]]: One of the first things we learn about Lisbeth is that she once turned in a client report to Armansky that began with pages and pages of relatively normal stuff before, without changing tone at all, revealing him to be a pedophile. With pictures of him meeting a child prostitute. And an interview with her.

* [[Bread, Eggs, Milk, Squick]]: One of the first things we learn about Lisbeth is that she once turned in a client report to Armansky that began with pages and pages of relatively normal stuff before, without changing tone at all, revealing him to be a pedophile. With pictures of him meeting a child prostitute. And an interview with her.

* [[Break the Cutie]]: Happens to both Lisbeth and Mikael a lot.

* [[Broken Bird]]: Bordering on [[Ax Crazy]] [[Sociopathic Hero]]; Lisbeth is fairly attractive, but to say that she has issues is putting it ''extremely'' mildly.

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* [[Fiery Redhead]]: Lisbeth has red hair but dyes it black.

* [[Friends With Benefits]]: Lisbeth and Miriam Wu. This is also how Mikael and Erika treat their relationship.

* [[Fun T Shirt]]:

* [[Fun T-Shirt]]:

** Lisbeth is fond of wearing shirts with snarky slogans on them. One proclaims: "Armageddon was yesterday - today we have a serious problem."

** In the American film version of ''Tattoo'', the shirt she's wearing when {{spoiler|Blomkvist confronts her in her apartment and asks for her help}} says "Fuck you you fucking fucks".

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* [[Harmful to Minors]]: Lisbeth grew up watching her mother get constantly beaten by her father. It made an impression, let's put it that way.

* [[Sociopathic Hero]]: Lisbeth, see really enjoys watching people suffer, in the first movie she watching with a smile on her face as {{spoiler|Martin}} burns. However she does these things for to avenge herself or others.

* [[Hey ~~Its~~ That Guy]]: [[Rock a Doodle|The Grand Duke]] [[The Sound of Music|Captain Von]] [[Up (Film)|Mintz]] hires [[James Bond]] and [[The Social Network|Mark Zuckerburg's ex-girlfriend]] (well now we know where she gets her hacking skills) to find out who killed his niece.

* [[Hey It's That Guy]]: [[Rock a Doodle|The Grand Duke]] [[The Sound of Music|Captain Von]] [[Up (Film)|Mintz]] hires [[James Bond]] and [[The Social Network|Mark Zuckerburg's ex-girlfriend]] (well now we know where she gets her hacking skills) to find out who killed his niece.

* [[Hollywood Hacking]]: Mostly averted by Lisbeth and her fellow hackers; for the most part it's extremely accurate. All of the members of Hacker Nation are good with computers, Lisbeth particularly. And not in the "take them out of the box and set them up" way, more in the "give her a high-level PC and a couple days and she'll get you the Pentagon's secret files" way.

* [[I Am Not Pretty]]: Lisbeth is mentioned as being convinced that her extreme skinniness makes her "repulsive".

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* [[Older Than They Look]]: Again, Lisbeth. At 25, she looks barely fifteen.

* [[Online Alias]]: Lisbeth goes by the hacker name "Wasp," which becomes a plot point as Mikael is able to track her down using it.

* [[Eerie Pale Skinned Brunette]]: Lisbeth, who is described as looking vaguely Asian in the books. In the films, she's played by a Pale Skinned Brunette actress.

* [[Eerie Pale-Skinned Brunette]]: Lisbeth, who is described as looking vaguely Asian in the books. In the films, she's played by a Pale Skinned Brunette actress.

* [[Pay Evil Unto Evil]]: Lisbeth's basic ''modus operandi''. The tagline on the teaser posters for the American version of ''Tattoo'' is a variant on the trope name.

* [[Photographic Memory]]: One of Lisbeth's talents. She gets upset when anyone calls attention to it, because she thinks it makes her weird.

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* [[Reason You Suck Speech]]: Many characters are fond of this. Lisbeth uses on in the first film to defend herself when Mikael questions her about {{spoiler|Martin's death.}} and why he deserved to die. In the second film, Armansky gives one to Lisbeth when she says she didn't know why she never said good bye. "You don't care about anyone, you treat your friends like dirt. It's as simple as that." Which she is unable to disagree with.

* [[Rebellious Spirit]]: Lisbeth has pretty major issues with authority. It bites her in the ass a lot, most often at times when it's least convenient. Mikael even notes in ''Hornet's Nest'' that many of her problems are related to this.

* [[Screw the Rules I'm Doing What's Right]]: Lisbeth has it to an extent. She hacks into people's computers and, if necessary, reports them to the authorities for their illegal actions (this is her justification). She hacks into ''everybody's'' computers and pretty much lives on her computer, so even if she isn't going after someone she'll still be hacking people. Mikael has this attitude.

* [[Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right]]: Lisbeth has it to an extent. She hacks into people's computers and, if necessary, reports them to the authorities for their illegal actions (this is her justification). She hacks into ''everybody's'' computers and pretty much lives on her computer, so even if she isn't going after someone she'll still be hacking people. Mikael has this attitude.

* [[Self Insert Fic]]: Compare Larsson and Blomkvist: both are middle-aged Swedish jornalists and both founded magazines devoted towards investigative reporting (albeit with different emphasis). Blomkvist, although a somewhat flawed character that goes through hell a few times, has a strong wish fulfillment element in him: he constantly gets good looking women with little to no effort and he's a respected journalist who's on top of his profession and has accomplished stuff akin to legends.

* [[Self-Insert Fic]]: Compare Larsson and Blomkvist: both are middle-aged Swedish jornalists and both founded magazines devoted towards investigative reporting (albeit with different emphasis). Blomkvist, although a somewhat flawed character that goes through hell a few times, has a strong wish fulfillment element in him: he constantly gets good looking women with little to no effort and he's a respected journalist who's on top of his profession and has accomplished stuff akin to legends.

* [[Sex Is Evil]]: Could be assumed, considering the [[All Men Are Rapists|high amount of sex scenes that become rape.]]

* [[Shout Out]]:

** All three books have homages to Swedish children's books, especially Astrid Lindgren's Pippi Longstocking and Kalle Blomkvist. The first one also has lots of homages to Agatha Christie, and name-checks Sara Paretsky and Sue Grafton.

** The girl's name in the first book, Harriet Vanger, seems like a [[Shout Out]] to Harriet Vane, of [[Dorothy L Sayers]]' Lord Whimsey novels.

* [[~~Spot Light~~ Stealing Squad]]:

* [[Spotlight-Stealing Squad]]:

** While the original books have Blomkvist and Salander as equal protagonists, the [[The Film of the Book|Swedish movies]] go out of their way to make Salander the star. Her weaknesses are cut back (most notably her social awkwardness), portraying her as less of a flawed human and more of an invincible force of nature. Blomkvist suffers in that his intelligence and journalistic competence are lowered in order to make Salander more intelligent by comparison.

** Notably averted with the American films, which in keeping with the books put the two protagonists on a more equal footing.

* [[Star Making Role]]:

* [[Star-Making Role]]:

** [[Noomi Rapace]] was mostly a stage actress before being cast in the trilogy, which has brought her international acclaim.

** The American film seems to be this for [[Rooney Mara]] too.

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* [[Badass Bookworm]]: Mikael is definitely this.

* [[Big Damn Heroes]]: {{spoiler|Lisbeth's rescue of Mikael at the hands of Martin Vanger.}}

* [[Big Screwed Up Family]]: The Vanger dynasty. Most of them were either corrupt executives, {{spoiler|perverts}} or Nazis. It's easier to list the Vangers who are ''not'' evil: Henrik, Martin, Cecilia, Anita and Harriet. Then in the last chapters of the book, we find out that the most evil of them all was {{spoiler|Martin}}.

* [[Big Screwed-Up Family]]: The Vanger dynasty. Most of them were either corrupt executives, {{spoiler|perverts}} or Nazis. It's easier to list the Vangers who are ''not'' evil: Henrik, Martin, Cecilia, Anita and Harriet. Then in the last chapters of the book, we find out that the most evil of them all was {{spoiler|Martin}}.

* [[Brother Sister Incest]]: {{spoiler|Martin and Harriet}}.

* [[Brother-Sister Incest]]: {{spoiler|Martin and Harriet}}.

* [[Clear My Name]]: Mikael's reason for taking the Vanger job; Henrik claims he'll give Mikael evidence that proves his innocence if he does.

* [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]]: Wennerström, whose international corporate empire is based on very bad things, {{spoiler|like third-world drug cartels}}.

* [[Defrosting Ice Queen]]: Happens to Lisbeth toward the end. At least until the [[Ship Sinking]] moment.

* [[Design ~~Students~~ Orgasm]]: The U.S. film's opening credits. So, so much.

* [[Design Student's Orgasm]]: The U.S. film's opening credits. So, so much.

* [[Different As Night and Day]]: Mikael and Lisbeth are an odd couple. Also, Lisbeth's twin sister Camilla was a "normal" teenager, pretty much the antithesis of Lisbeth in every way (however, she seems to have taken the side of the father who badly abused her mother). She never actually appears onstage in the existing three books, and Lisbeth makes no effort to trace her. It seems likely that Larsson had in mind a role for her (possibly an unpleasant one) in one of the books he died before writing.

* [[Distressed Dude]]: Mikael Blomquist is captured by the mass murderer, locked in an underground torture room, chained, stripped naked, humiliated and explicitly threatened with rape, when Salander breaks in to save him, chase and destroy the villain. A precise gender mirror image of the classic [[Disressed Damsel]] tropes.

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* [[Karmic Death]]: Gottfried Vanger, drowned by {{spoiler|Harriet,}} the girl he'd been raping for several years. {{spoiler|Martin}} gets this in the movie, when Lisbeth walks away and leaves him to burn. This ties into his comment about how all his victims thought he would spare them, only to have their hopes brutally crushed. In short, he's denied the same mercy he denied his victims

* [[Kick the Son of A Bitch]]: Lisbeth's treatment of {{spoiler|Bjurman is so harsh that it borders on [[Moral Event Horizon]].}} But it was so precise and ingenious that it could qualify as a [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]] : {{spoiler|rather than killing the man, Lisbeth opted to make Bjurman suffer the ''exact same abuse'' he put her through, up to every little detail, including the rape and the blackmail, just to make him realize how it felt. However, leaving Bjurman alive left him free to make new plans against her,}}which might have ended very badly.

* [[May December Romance]]: Mikael and Lisbeth's short-lived relationship.

* [[May-December Romance]]: Mikael and Lisbeth's short-lived relationship.

* [[Minor Crime Reveals Major Plot]]: {{spoiler|Investigating disappearance of one rich heiress -> Family of serial killers}}

* [[Missing White Woman Syndrome]]: One of the more subtle tropes invoked in this series. Blomkvist is hired to investigate the disappearance of Harriet Vanger, the scion of a wealthy Swedish family. However, {{spoiler|Martin Vanger}} has raped and murdered literally ''dozens'' of women, mostly foreign-born, and {{spoiler|Martin}} himself mentions that no one has made any note of their disappearance. Larsson never explicitly compares the two cases, but the media critique is pretty implicit regardless.

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* [[Oh Crap]]: Lisbeth's reaction after seeing Mikael, who knows that she hacked his computer, at her house. However, Mikael isn't looking for any kind of payback, but for her help instead.

* [[Parental Incest]]: {{spoiler|Gottfried to Martin and Harriet}}.

* [[Playing Against Type]]: {{spoiler|Peter Haber}}, cast as {{spoiler|monstrous serial killer and rapist Martin Vanger}}, is known mainly for two roles. One being a [[By ~~the~~ Book Cop]] named Martin Beck in twenty-something movies. The other, a role practically everybody born in Sweden during the 80's and early 90's identify him with, is the sweet bumbling Papa Rudolph in the immensly popular "Sune" series. To put it in terms for a more international audience, it's basically like seeing [[Mister Rogers Neighborhood|Fred Rogers]] playing a Complete Monster serial killer. And doing it superbly!

* [[Playing Against Type]]: {{spoiler|Peter Haber}}, cast as {{spoiler|monstrous serial killer and rapist Martin Vanger}}, is known mainly for two roles. One being a [[By-The-Book Cop]] named Martin Beck in twenty-something movies. The other, a role practically everybody born in Sweden during the 80's and early 90's identify him with, is the sweet bumbling Papa Rudolph in the immensly popular "Sune" series. To put it in terms for a more international audience, it's basically like seeing [[Mister Rogers Neighborhood|Fred Rogers]] playing a Complete Monster serial killer. And doing it superbly!

* [[Pragmatic Adaptation]]:

** [[The Film of the Book]] hits most of the high notes, but simplifies a few matters for the sake of streamlining the plot. Henrik's offer to give Mikael evidence about Wennerström and his buying a stake in ''Millennium'' are left out, as is Mikael's daughter being the one who figures out the "Leviticus" references, and Anita is killed off {{spoiler|instead of being Harriet's helper}}. Some events in the timeline are shifted around as well, and the various ''Millennium'' employees have maybe five minutes total screen time.

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* [[It Got Worse]]: Every time you think it can't, somehow it does, throughout the book.

* [[Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique]]: Lisbeth does it to a john, involving a stungun and a noose around his neck. Pretty much on the edge of the [[Moral Event Horizon]].

* [[Jerkass]]: Oi, where to begin? First, there's Officer Faste, who believes Lisbeth's nuts and refuses to accept any possibility of her innocence, because he's got issues with lesbians and thinks she is one. Then, Milton Security employee Hedstrom, who despises her for threatening to expose him for defrauding a client. Nils Bjurman, who sexually assaulted and threatened her, Dr. Teleborian, who had the 12 year-old Lisbeth tied up in the mental hospital whenever she defied him, and so this will stay a relatively short list, Prosecutor Ekström, who plays up the media frenzy surrounding her just because he likes being in the spotlight. Oh, and [[Anti Hero|Lisbeth]]

* [[Jerkass]]: Oi, where to begin? First, there's Officer Faste, who believes Lisbeth's nuts and refuses to accept any possibility of her innocence, because he's got issues with lesbians and thinks she is one. Then, Milton Security employee Hedstrom, who despises her for threatening to expose him for defrauding a client. Nils Bjurman, who sexually assaulted and threatened her, Dr. Teleborian, who had the 12 year-old Lisbeth tied up in the mental hospital whenever she defied him, and so this will stay a relatively short list, Prosecutor Ekström, who plays up the media frenzy surrounding her just because he likes being in the spotlight. Oh, and [[Anti-Hero|Lisbeth]]

* [[Karmic Death]]: {{spoiler|Nils Bjurman}}, who is killed by {{spoiler|Niedermann}}, the man he thought was going to help him.

* [[The Mafiya]]: Zalachenko is the boss of an Estonian crime ring who specialize in trafficking underage prostitutes.

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* {{spoiler|[[Sanity Slippage]]: Niedermann.}}

* [[Rule of Threes]]: Lisbeth zaps three men with her trusty stungun {{spoiler|but the third man is immune to its effects despite being hit in the groin.}}

* [[Screw the Rules I Have Connections]]: This is the bulk of Zalachenko's attitude when Lisbeth confronts him. Really, it's what his entire speech boils down to.

* [[Screw the Rules, I Have Connections]]: This is the bulk of Zalachenko's attitude when Lisbeth confronts him. Really, it's what his entire speech boils down to.

* [[Show Within a Show]]: There is an excerpt of Blomkvist's book ''The Knights Templar''.

* [[Superpower Lottery]]: Won by Niedermann - he not only [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congenital_insensitivity_to_pain feels no pain], he has [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myostatin-related_muscle_hypertrophy a gene which gives him] an insanely muscular frame [[Required Secondary Powers|which keeps him from killing himself by accident.]] The first condition should have killed him in his twenties, the second is so rare only a handful of subjects have been identified. The two together essentially make him [[The Terminator]].

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* [[Call Back]]: Lisbeth contacts Erika to tell her something, and when Erika demands that Lisbeth verify who she is, Lisbeth says that she knows how Mikael got the scar on his neck in ''Dragon Tattoo''.

* [[CIA Evil FBI Good]]: A roughly analogous situation, as the internal unit responsible for investigating constitutional violations are the good guys, and the CIA-esque "Section" are evil.

* [[Crazy Prepared]]: The Säpo branch called The Section for Special Analysis, which has access to government files and resources, extremely talented operatives, and a total willingness to [[Screw the Rules I Have Connections|use any means necessary to protect their own asses]].

* [[Crazy Prepared]]: The Säpo branch called The Section for Special Analysis, which has access to government files and resources, extremely talented operatives, and a total willingness to [[Screw the Rules, I Have Connections|use any means necessary to protect their own asses]].

* [[Did Not Do the Research]]

** Monica Figuerola is described as an ex-gymnast who barely missed making the Olympic team in the seventies. However, Sweden hasn't fielded a women's gymnastics team since 1964. Also, she is described as being taller than Mikael and usually ex-gymnasts are very very short. These are due to numerous errors in the English translation. The Swedish original says that she almost made the Swedish Olympic track and field team when she was 17. Which still is pretty unrealistic, but barely plausible.

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* [[Karmic Death]]: {{spoiler|Alexander Zalachenko}}, who tries to bully his way out of trouble one time too many. And {{spoiler|Neidermann}}, killed by the members of Svavelsjö MC that he betrayed.

* [[The Man Behind the Man]]: Remember how Zalachenko is this to Niedermann? Turns out that {{spoiler|Fredrik Clinton}} is this to Zalachenko. Taking it even further: although {{spoiler|Clinton}} is the main orchestrator behind Hornet's Nest's events, he is loyally following orders set about by {{spoiler|his old boss, Evert Gullberg,}} who starts things off by {{spoiler|putting a bullet in Zalachenko and then himself,}} leaving {{spoiler|Clinton}} to take over.

* [[Morally Ambiguous Doctorate]]: Teleborian, who, while undeniably talented (he had at one point helped talk a spy out of suicide and ''into'' becoming a double agent), also made horrendously irresponsible conclusions about Lisbeth's mental state based on the fact that she refused to acknowledge his authority over her. He was also drafted by The Section to oversee her care because they knew his view fitted with theirs.

* [[Morally-Ambiguous Doctorate]]: Teleborian, who, while undeniably talented (he had at one point helped talk a spy out of suicide and ''into'' becoming a double agent), also made horrendously irresponsible conclusions about Lisbeth's mental state based on the fact that she refused to acknowledge his authority over her. He was also drafted by The Section to oversee her care because they knew his view fitted with theirs.

* [[No Guy Wants an Amazon]]: The reason of why all of Monica's relationships failed. Averted once she hooks up with Mikael, who rather likes her athletic physique.

* [[Pragmatic Adaptation]]: Once more, most of the important plot points are intact, with only a few minor subplots cut for the sake of time or clarity. Erika's never left ''Millennium'' (and has no stalker), Trinity and the rest of Hacker Nation are reduced to just Plague, and Wadensjöö's battle with Clinton for control of The Section is missing. However, there are a couple of head-scratching moment differences. Christer Malm inexplicably loses his nerve as it pertains to ''Millennium's'' work, Niedermann is reduced to just a [[Giant Mook]] that shows up every half-hour or so to hurt or kill people (even at one point attemping to attack Lisbeth while she's at the hospital), much of Annika's [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|amazing legal work]] is gone, and the ending changes Lisbeth and Mikael's renewed friendship into an awkward "Um...okay...bye." deal.

* [[Precision F Strike]]: Just before Gullberg {{spoiler|shoots Zalachenko}}, he says "You motherfucker."

* [[Precision F-Strike]]: Just before Gullberg {{spoiler|shoots Zalachenko}}, he says "You motherfucker."

* [[Prosecutors Fallacy]]: Prosecuter Ekström is guilty of this to an appalling degree, both from his disbelief that anyone in the government could have done what Lisbeth and Blomkvist accuse them of, and from being fed incorrect information by The Section because they're trying to use him to cover the whole thing up.

* [[The Reveal]]: Ekström and Teleborian categorically deny that Bjurman ever mistreated Salander, with Teleborian going so far as to say its just a fantasy. Then {{spoiler|Gianinni plays the DVD Salander made of Bjurman's raping, sodomizing and torturing her}}. This does not [[Oh Crap|go over well with them]].