They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot/Western Animation: Difference between revisions

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* ''[[Kappa Mikey]]'' had the brilliant idea of mixing a [[Western Animation]] American in a [[Anime]] and [[Animesque]] Japanese setting to create a unique [[Fish Out of Water]] story. The only problem? The show ''barely'' if any utilized any real [[Japanese Media Tropes]] or Western [[Animation Tropes]] that would've made it a unique blending of the two mediums. Any Anime related things were mainly for the [[Gag Series]], that eventually turned into a [[Gross-Out Show]], certainly not the [[Genre Busting]] concept it could've become.
* ''[[Kappa Mikey]]'' had the brilliant idea of mixing a [[Western Animation]] American in a [[Anime]] and [[Animesque]] Japanese setting to create a unique [[Fish Out of Water]] story. The only problem? The show ''barely'' if any utilized any real [[Japanese Media Tropes]] or Western [[Animation Tropes]] that would've made it a unique blending of the two mediums. Any Anime related things were mainly for the [[Gag Series]], that eventually turned into a [[Gross-Out Show]], certainly not the [[Genre Busting]] concept it could've become.
** Pretty much true of any anime parody ever. The gags--lips moving wrong, J-Pop, giant mecha--are always the same, often outdated, and represent a small sample of anime. It's not really "plot," but the point is, who is this for? People who don't like anime don't get it, and those who do have made these jokes a billion times over during Dragonball Z.
** Pretty much true of any anime parody ever. The gags--lips moving wrong, J-Pop, giant mecha--are always the same, often outdated, and represent a small sample of anime. It's not really "plot," but the point is, who is this for? People who don't like anime don't get it, and those who do have made these jokes a billion times over during Dragonball Z.
* ''[[Justice League (animation)|Justice League Unlimited]]'' had a full season of shows building to a climactic confrontation between the Justice League and a revitalized Legion of Doom, led by a Lex Luthor who, it appeared would regain Brainiac and ascend to near godhood with a full army equal in power and numbers to the expanded Justice League... then, at the literal last second Darkseid is resurrected by his efforts, and the League and Legion have to team up to beat him back. Gripping stuff to be sure, but wouldn't have the expected DCAU [[Battle Royale With Cheese]] been awesome?
* ''[[Justice League (animation)|Justice League Unlimited]]'' had a full season of shows building to a climactic confrontation between the Justice League and a revitalized Legion of Doom, led by a Lex Luthor who, it appeared would regain Brainiac and ascend to near godhood with a full army equal in power and numbers to the expanded Justice League... then, at the literal last second Darkseid is resurrected by his efforts, and the League and Legion have to team up to beat him back. Gripping stuff to be sure, but wouldn't have the expected DCAU [[Battle Royale With Cheese]] been awesome?
** Likewise, the Cadmus story arc. For most the season, the tension between the Justice League and the United States Government (Cadmus) slowly but surely ramps up, threatening to explode into full scale war and raising serious ethical questions on whether an independent organization staffed by an army of superpowered individuals could be trusted in dictating world security. Turns out, it was all just one massive [[Xanatos Gambit]] by Brainiac. He rebuild himself by playing the League and Cadmus against each other. He would have succeeded to some degree no matter who won. The threat he posed prompted the Justice League and Cadmus to team up and defeat him.
** Likewise, the Cadmus story arc. For most the season, the tension between the Justice League and the United States Government (Cadmus) slowly but surely ramps up, threatening to explode into full scale war and raising serious ethical questions on whether an independent organization staffed by an army of superpowered individuals could be trusted in dictating world security. Turns out, it was all just one massive [[Xanatos Gambit]] by Brainiac. He rebuild himself by playing the League and Cadmus against each other. He would have succeeded to some degree no matter who won. The threat he posed prompted the Justice League and Cadmus to team up and defeat him.
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* ''[[Hey Arnold!]]!'', "Gerald vs. Jamie O": [http://web.archive.org/web/20030610052501/http://home.earthlink.net/~hey-arnold/arn_eps5.html Actual pre-US-broadcast plot description] from an unofficial website: "Gerald gets a crush on a new girl. All together now: What about Phoebe?" Sounds like [[Ship Tease|the perfect bait]] for Phoebe-Gerald [[Shipping|shippers]], right? Well, you could probably guess this from the ep title, {{spoiler|but it turns out that the story isn't about how this new crush affects Phoebe, but rather about how the new girl is actually attracted to Jamie (Gerald's brother) and G thinks he's trying to steal her from him. Phoebe is absent both in presence and mention.}}
* ''[[Hey Arnold!]]!'', "Gerald vs. Jamie O": [http://web.archive.org/web/20030610052501/http://home.earthlink.net/~hey-arnold/arn_eps5.html Actual pre-US-broadcast plot description] from an unofficial website: "Gerald gets a crush on a new girl. All together now: What about Phoebe?" Sounds like [[Ship Tease|the perfect bait]] for Phoebe-Gerald [[Shipping|shippers]], right? Well, you could probably guess this from the ep title, {{spoiler|but it turns out that the story isn't about how this new crush affects Phoebe, but rather about how the new girl is actually attracted to Jamie (Gerald's brother) and G thinks he's trying to steal her from him. Phoebe is absent both in presence and mention.}}
* The ''[[All Grown Up]]'' [[Christmas Episode]] Missed Out an a Perfectly Good Subplot: Actual exchange from the episode:
* The ''[[All Grown Up]]'' [[Christmas Episode]] Missed Out an a Perfectly Good Subplot: Actual exchange from the episode:
{{quote|'''Susie:''' [[Written in Absence|Angelica's skiing in Aspen]], and Phil and Lil are decking the halls. What are you planning to do, Chuckie?<br />
{{quote|'''Susie:''' [[Written-In Absence|Angelica's skiing in Aspen]], and Phil and Lil are decking the halls. What are you planning to do, Chuckie?<br />
'''Chuckie:''' The usual. High expectations met with crushing disappointment. }}
'''Chuckie:''' The usual. High expectations met with crushing disappointment. }}
** Funny, sounds a whole lot like what Angelica/Chuckie shippers must have felt after having entertained themselves with the thought of the two kissing under the mistletoe when they heard about the special. (To add insult to injury: Episodes with Susie usually also have Angelica, and the main conflict of the ''[[Rugrats]]'' Christmas specials revolved around her as well.)
** Funny, sounds a whole lot like what Angelica/Chuckie shippers must have felt after having entertained themselves with the thought of the two kissing under the mistletoe when they heard about the special. (To add insult to injury: Episodes with Susie usually also have Angelica, and the main conflict of the ''[[Rugrats]]'' Christmas specials revolved around her as well.)
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** "Back to the Woods" wasted two perfectly good plots in one episode: An [[Adam Westing]] James Woods seeking revenge on Peter for the events of an earlier episode, and the [[Ripped from the Headlines]] but comedically unexplored topic of identify theft.
** "Back to the Woods" wasted two perfectly good plots in one episode: An [[Adam Westing]] James Woods seeking revenge on Peter for the events of an earlier episode, and the [[Ripped from the Headlines]] but comedically unexplored topic of identify theft.
** "Not All Dogs Go To Heaven" suffered from this, considering that the promos focused on Stewie spending the day with the cast of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation''. Granted, that plot was still there, but most of the episode focused on the B-story where Meg finds religion after catching the mumps and Brian is chastised for his atheism (which Brian uses to get Meg to stop being religious). No wonder tropers and non-tropers alike have cited this episode as an [[Old Shame]].
** "Not All Dogs Go To Heaven" suffered from this, considering that the promos focused on Stewie spending the day with the cast of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation''. Granted, that plot was still there, but most of the episode focused on the B-story where Meg finds religion after catching the mumps and Brian is chastised for his atheism (which Brian uses to get Meg to stop being religious). No wonder tropers and non-tropers alike have cited this episode as an [[Old Shame]].
* Much like Family Guy above, ''[[Futurama]]'' is notoriously known for wasted good plots, but that's sort of the way the series works.
* Much like Family Guy above, ''[[Futurama]]'' is notoriously known for wasted good plots, but that's sort of the way the series works.
** The one that takes the cake though was the one at the end of the movie ''Into The Wild Green Yonder'' where the entire group of protagonists were on the run from the law even though they were doing good. At the end of the movie, they came across a huge wormhole that could take them millions of light-years away without any way of knowing if they could ever return. Unanimously agreeing, the heroes went into the wormhole as it converted into a similar pattern of lights in the opening sequence of each episode. Originally, this was intended to be the series finale, but due to its popularity increasing due to sales of the four movies, it was granted two more seasons. Unfortunately, instead of continuing the plot of the heroes being on the run and making it an overall [[Stern Chase]] plotline or having the heroes have adventures in exotic new lands, a [[Snap Back]] is made and the heroes find themselves back at Earth. Even more so, a subtle [[Hand Wave]] is made and all the heroes' actions from "Into The Wild Green Yonder" are forgotten, allowing them to resume their normal lives, because of course, [[Status Quo Is God]].
** The one that takes the cake though was the one at the end of the movie ''Into The Wild Green Yonder'' where the entire group of protagonists were on the run from the law even though they were doing good. At the end of the movie, they came across a huge wormhole that could take them millions of light-years away without any way of knowing if they could ever return. Unanimously agreeing, the heroes went into the wormhole as it converted into a similar pattern of lights in the opening sequence of each episode. Originally, this was intended to be the series finale, but due to its popularity increasing due to sales of the four movies, it was granted two more seasons. Unfortunately, instead of continuing the plot of the heroes being on the run and making it an overall [[Stern Chase]] plotline or having the heroes have adventures in exotic new lands, a [[Snap Back]] is made and the heroes find themselves back at Earth. Even more so, a subtle [[Hand Wave]] is made and all the heroes' actions from "Into The Wild Green Yonder" are forgotten, allowing them to resume their normal lives, because of course, [[Status Quo Is God]].
*** It is worth noting that some elements remain, some things that were really long in coming, like oh I don't know, Leela & Fry finally establishing a (rocky) relationship?
*** It is worth noting that some elements remain, some things that were really long in coming, like oh I don't know, Leela & Fry finally establishing a (rocky) relationship?
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** And it did give us the all powerful meme, "Batman does not eat nachos!"
** And it did give us the all powerful meme, "Batman does not eat nachos!"
* ''[[Winx Club]]'' season 3 had plenty of this, contributing to its overall [[Seasonal Rot]] (though other seasons had some of this trope as well):
* ''[[Winx Club]]'' season 3 had plenty of this, contributing to its overall [[Seasonal Rot]] (though other seasons had some of this trope as well):
** The season premiere introduces us to Chimera, a badass fairy who belittles Alfea fairies (like Stella) since she's from another school, with only the slightest of hints given to what turns out to be her real plot arc: Stella's father [[Guess Who I'm Marrying|announcing his marriage to Chimera's mother]]. Well, we never see [[Those Two Guys|the two girls]] she's introduced along with after the premiere, [[Hufflepuff House|we never see Chimera's school]] or her fairy transformation ''at all''. One episode has Stella saying, "I hope I don't have to save Chimera", of having to save someone from her own realm to earn her Enchantix. [[Tempting Fate|Surely a set-up]] for Stella having to save Chimera anyway, and a subsequent [[Heel Face Turn]] and [[Enemy Mine]], right? But, Stella ends up saving her father instead. When Stella and friends decide to crash the wedding, [[Curb Stomp Battle|Chimera and mom go down so easily]] (admittedly, because of Stella's new powers, but still, COME ON!), [[Badass Decay|one would hardly believe]] that this was the same girl we saw make chaotic damage back in the premiere ''just to get a dress''.
** The season premiere introduces us to Chimera, a badass fairy who belittles Alfea fairies (like Stella) since she's from another school, with only the slightest of hints given to what turns out to be her real plot arc: Stella's father [[Guess Who I'm Marrying|announcing his marriage to Chimera's mother]]. Well, we never see [[Those Two Guys|the two girls]] she's introduced along with after the premiere, [[Hufflepuff House|we never see Chimera's school]] or her fairy transformation ''at all''. One episode has Stella saying, "I hope I don't have to save Chimera", of having to save someone from her own realm to earn her Enchantix. [[Tempting Fate|Surely a set-up]] for Stella having to save Chimera anyway, and a subsequent [[Heel Face Turn]] and [[Enemy Mine]], right? But, Stella ends up saving her father instead. When Stella and friends decide to crash the wedding, [[Curb Stomp Battle|Chimera and mom go down so easily]] (admittedly, because of Stella's new powers, but still, COME ON!), [[Badass Decay|one would hardly believe]] that this was the same girl we saw make chaotic damage back in the premiere ''just to get a dress''.
** Another S3 mini-arc sees [[Big Bad]] Valtor give Sky's ex-fiancee Diaspro a potion, which she then administers to Sky, causing him to announcement his engagement to her instead of Bloom at his party. The next episode is dedicated to the Winx storming the palace trying to get an explanation for this, and finding out it was a result of a spell. Stella fixes him up with fairy dust, but has to leave quickly with Diaspro and her guards are closing in. Guards eventually capture Brandon instead, and Diaspro yells at the fairies, "This isn't over! Sky will be mine!" 4Kids edited that last line out, and with good reason: The next we hear of this plot, [[Offscreen Moment of Awesome|everything has been resolved off-screen]], and Diaspro has been banished.
** Another S3 mini-arc sees [[Big Bad]] Valtor give Sky's ex-fiancee Diaspro a potion, which she then administers to Sky, causing him to announcement his engagement to her instead of Bloom at his party. The next episode is dedicated to the Winx storming the palace trying to get an explanation for this, and finding out it was a result of a spell. Stella fixes him up with fairy dust, but has to leave quickly with Diaspro and her guards are closing in. Guards eventually capture Brandon instead, and Diaspro yells at the fairies, "This isn't over! Sky will be mine!" 4Kids edited that last line out, and with good reason: The next we hear of this plot, [[Offscreen Moment of Awesome|everything has been resolved off-screen]], and Diaspro has been banished.
** They Edited Out A Perfectly Wasted Plot: A S1 ep originally ends with Griselda announcing an upcoming parent-teacher meeting, which has Bloom worried (interestingly, they ''don't'' address the fact that the only parents she's known are kept out of Alfea by a barrier). All this achieves is to set up the girls having nightmares about their parents in the next ep, as the whole meeting issue is never followed up on otherwise. In the 4Kids dub, Griselda's announcement is edited out altogether, and whereas the next ep originally has a scene of the girls discussing the upcoming meeting, they're returning from a night at the movies in the dub.
** They Edited Out A Perfectly Wasted Plot: A S1 ep originally ends with Griselda announcing an upcoming parent-teacher meeting, which has Bloom worried (interestingly, they ''don't'' address the fact that the only parents she's known are kept out of Alfea by a barrier). All this achieves is to set up the girls having nightmares about their parents in the next ep, as the whole meeting issue is never followed up on otherwise. In the 4Kids dub, Griselda's announcement is edited out altogether, and whereas the next ep originally has a scene of the girls discussing the upcoming meeting, they're returning from a night at the movies in the dub.
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