Trope Distinctions/G-I

Part 3 of the Canonical List of Subtle Trope Distinctions. Items are sorted alphabetically by whichever trope is alphabetically first; if you're looking for one in specific, use the "Find" or "Search" function of your Web browser.

G

Game Over vs. Kobayashi Mario vs. Unwinnable

A Game Over is the game declaring Exactly What It Says on the Tin: You died, ran out of lives, or failed a mission objective, so your game is over.
A Kobayashi Mario is an Endless Game -- you simply continue playing from level to level until you ultimately lose.
An Unwinnable situation occurs when something makes it impossible to progress in a game but doesn't result in a Game Over, forcing you to start over yourself.

Gender Bender vs. Easy Sex Change vs. Transgender vs. Gender Flip

Transgender portrays the kind of "sex change" seen in real-life, technically referred to as Sex Reassignment Therapy, or SRT.
Easy Sex Change has the trappings of a "realistic" sex change, but portrays it in a more simplistic manner, often minimizing the physical, psychological, and/or social issues involved.
Gender Bender changes a character completely into the opposite sex (usually by magic or Applied Phlebotinum), as if they were born that way to begin with. (A man turned into a woman would be able to get pregnant, etc.) Wholly impossible in Real Life (apart from a few oddities in the animal kingdom).
Gender Flip doesn't involve an actual sex change: A character is re-designed, out-of-universe, as the opposite gender of what the audience knew them to be. In-universe, the character actually was born that way to begin with.

Gender Flip vs. Crosscast Role

Crosscast Role has a male actor playing a female character (or vice versa.)
Gender Flip has a female actor playing a female character (or vice versa), but the character was originally conceived and/or written as a male.

Genius Bruiser vs. Badass Bookworm

The Genius Bruiser is a large, powerful character who is also very intelligent.
The Badass Bookworm is a smart but otherwise ordinary character who can, when needed, pull off feats of Badass-ery that he/she would never be suspected of being capable of doing.

Genocide Backfire vs. Nice Job Breaking It, Herod

Genocide Backfire occurs when a villain wipes out an entire people in order to prevent an uprising, only to have this act cause the uprising. This can overlap with Nice Job Breaking It, Herod if the genocide had a specific target.
Nice Job Breaking It, Herod occurs when a villain targets the person destined to defeat him while he is still too young to protect himself. This can overlap with Genocide Backfire if the villain wipes out the target's entire people to try and get to him.

Ghost Shipping vs. I Love the Dead

Ghost Shipping is when one half of a dating couple happens to be Undead.
I Love the Dead is when someone has sex with a corpse. The distinction is consent: the former has it, the latter doesn't.

Gone Horribly Right vs. Gone Horribly Wrong

Gone Horribly Right is when the product/experiment has a bad outcome from doing exactly what was intended, either from going further than the creator(s) thought it would, or because of unforeseen consequences of its purpose.
Gone Horribly Wrong is when an unforeseen glitch causes the product/experiment to have a bad outcome.

The Good Guys Always Win vs. Invincible Hero vs. Justice Will Prevail

The Good Guys Always Win is the tendency of the good guys to ultimately prevail over evil by the end of the story.
An Invincible Hero is victorious not only at the end, but at every intermediate point as well.
Justice Will Prevail is when a character believes that good will ultimately prevail over evil.

Guy in Back vs Wing Man

The Guy in Back is a member of the same aircraft crew as the main character, but isn't the pilot or co-pilot (where applicable). He isn't flying the plane.
The Wing Man is the pilot of another plane altogether.

H

Ham and Cheese vs. Took the Bad Film Seriously vs. Writer Revolt

Ham and Cheese is an actor reacting to a bad work by acting over the top.
Took the Bad Film Seriously is an actor reacting to a bad work by acting better than the work deserves.
Writer Revolt is a writer reacting to Executive Meddling in an otherwise good work.

Hand Wave vs. Justified Trope vs. Lampshade Hanging vs. Voodoo Shark

A Hand Wave is an explanation given for a trope that, well, isn't actually an explanation; it's merely something that the writers tossed in to make it appear as if they had addressed the issue ("The car exploded because of the bullets hitting the fuel tank").
A Justified Trope is when a logical explanation is given for a trope ("The truck exploded because it was loaded with unspent ordnance").
A Lampshade Hanging makes no attempt at an explanation, it just notes the improbability or impossibility of the trope, and moves on ("Cars don't just explode like that!").
A Voodoo Shark is an explanation that actually makes things worse ("The car exploded because it was loaded with nitroglycerin" - why was the car carrying nitroglycerin, exactly?).

Harmless Villain vs. Hate Sink vs. Villainy-Free Villain

A Harmless Villain wants to commit conventionally villainous actions, but is prevented from achieving anything by his own incompetence.
The Hate Sink is the character that's there for you to hate because the main conflict isn't with a human villain. May or may not be villainy-free; is usually not "harmless" because if he doesn't meaningfully mistreat or obstruct the heroes he won't be hated.
A Villainy-Free Villain has an acceptable goal and legal means, but is presented as such a distasteful person the audience can still hate him.

Have a Nice Death vs. It's a Wonderful Failure vs. Nonstandard Game Over

Have a Nice Death is a regular game over which is mocked in some way by the game itself.
It's a Wonderful Failure is a regular game over which is accompanied by a drawn-out Downer Ending.
A Nonstandard Game Over is a sudden, unexpected game over which deviates from the standard game mechanics in some way.

Hello, Nurse! vs. Ms. Fanservice

Hello, Nurse! is the character whose attractiveness is designed to distract other characters.
Ms. Fanservice is the character whose attractiveness is designed to appeal to the audience.
Overlap between these two is unsurprisingly common.

Heroic Fantasy vs. High Fantasy vs. Low Fantasy vs. Standard Fantasy Setting

High Fantasy features a Dark Lord who must be beaten.
Low Fantasy may have a Dark Lord, but he is not the Big Bad.
Heroic Fantasy centers more around the hero than the Dark Lord.
The Standard Fantasy Setting is a possible setting for any of the above genres.

Heterosexual Life Partners vs. Ho Yay vs. Odd Couple

Heterosexual Life Partners are two people of the same gender who are inseparable, to the point there may be a "breakup episode" or even withdrawals when they are separated.
Ho Yay is when interactions between characters of the same gender (usually male) have a homosexual subtext, sometimes (often) only seen by (some of) the fans.
An Odd Couple are two people who are friends but are in general complete opposites, for example a neat freak vs. a slob.

High Octane Nightmare Fuel vs. Nightmare Fuel

Nightmare Fuel is (normally) unintentional things that cause massive amount of terror for children.
High Octane Nightmare Fuel causes the terror in both children and adults, and often is intentional.

Ho Yay vs. Homoerotic Subtext

Ho Yay is when something can be interpreted as having homoerotic subtext, but it's unclear as to whether this was intentional or if it's all just in the viewers' heads.
Homoerotic Subtext is when the subtext was definitely intended by the creator (and may even be lampshaded).

Homage vs. Shout-Out

An Homage is an aspect of a production that directly references something else, whether it be in the designs, character names, or something else that is repeatedly shown.
A Shout-Out is is a one-time reference that is not a major aspect of the production, just a quick nod.

Honor Before Reason vs. Lawful Stupid

Honor Before Reason is when a character does something detrimental to themselves because it's the right thing to do.
Lawful Stupid is when a character does something detrimental to themselves because the rules say they should.
- Another way to put it is that someone who has Honor Before Reason would give the McGuffin to the Big Bad because he promised. A Lawful Stupid character would work for the Big Bad because said Big Bad managed to become his boss.

Hooked Up Afterwards vs. Maybe Ever After

Hooked Up Afterwards is only for secondary characters who are paired off at the end, sometimes despite not having much interaction within the work.
Maybe Ever After is when a Romance Arc between any two characters (possibly including the leads) ends with a hint that they hook up, but leaves some ambiguity about the relationship.

Hyper Awareness vs. Sherlock Scan

Hyper Awareness is when a character is actively aware of their surroundings at almost all times, and will often point out events that occured even while they were occupied with something else. Most "Hyper Aware" characters are capable of performing a Sherlock Scan.
A character who does a Sherlock Scan is capable of instantly observing minor details and expanding upon them to make broader and accurate inductions about a person or location.

Hypno Fool vs. Trigger Phrase

Hypno Fool is a person who is under the effect of post-hypnotic commands.
Trigger Phrase is a phrase that puts a person into a hypnotic state.

I

I Am Not Shazam vs. Protagonist Title Fallacy

I Am Not Shazam is a case of mistaken identity -- people mistake whom the Character Title refers to or wrongly assume the title is a Character Title when it isn't even one at all.
Protagonist Title Fallacy is a case of mistaken role -- people correctly know whom or what the Character Title refers to but wrongly assume that the eponymous character is the protagonist because his/her name is the title.

Idiot Ball vs. Idiot Plot vs. Plot Induced Stupidity

The Idiot Ball is when a singular character behaves stupidly in order for the plot to go forward at all. The full term is "Who has the idiot ball this week?"
An Idiot Plot is when multiple characters pass the ball between them. One character acts stupidly to another character's stupid act and that is what keeps the dramatic tension.
Plot Induced Stupidity is when the plot gets started just fine, but in order to keep dramatic tension a character or multiple characters miss an obvious clue, forget they have a certain superpower or forget they actually had a plan for just such an emergency.

If Jesus, Then Aliens vs. No Such Thing as Space Jesus vs. No Such Thing as Wizard Jesus

If Jesus, Then Aliens refers to the tendency of belief in Jesus to be associated with belief in aliens -- either both beliefs (to show that believers accept anything) or neither (to show that skeptics believe nothing).
No Such Thing as Space Jesus is when sci-fi beings with great power are treated as aliens, not as genuine gods.
No Such Thing as Wizard Jesus is when the existence of beings as powerful as religious figures doesn't call into question the divine nature of those figures.
- Basically, "Space Jesus" and "Wizard Jesus" mean different things -- "Space Jesus" means a being that's in space and divine, and "Wizard Jesus" means a being that's a wizard instead of being divine.

Ignore the Fanservice vs. Not Distracted by the Sexy

Ignore the Fanservice is about an individual character who is not distracted by sexually suggestive displays, especially when they are intentional.
Not Distracted by the Sexy is when a character wears Stripperiffic outfits in public but nobody makes any comment about them.

Immortality vs. Made of Iron vs. Nigh Invulnerability

Immortality lists types; such as Nigh Invulnerability, Unlimited Longevity, Regeneration, Staying Alive, etc.
Made of Iron is when the normal human body survives things it really, really shouldn't.
Nigh Invulnerability is when this is a specified design, such as a special power, magic, or science. Someone who is literally made of iron is this.

I Just Want to Be Beautiful vs. Beautiful All Along vs. The Makeover

These tropes are about changing personal appereance.
- I Just Want to Be Beautiful: A character wants to be beautiful but often doesn't believe they are.
- Beautiful All Along: A character is revealed as being beautiful having thought of themselves as ugly before
- The Makeover: A character who was thought to be unattractive is made beautiful by a change of wardrobe, haircut, and makeup.

Incredibly Lame Pun vs. Just for Pun vs. Stealth Pun

An Incredibly Lame Pun is one that's meant to be really bad and pointed out as being such by others.
Just for Pun is when a pun is made as part of a page on the wiki to add humor.
A Stealth Pun is a joke (usually but not always a pun) whose punchline is left for the audience and/or others in the works to figure out. This sometimes creates a Late to the Punchline situation.

Incurable Cough of Death vs. Soap Opera Disease vs. The Disease That Shall Not Be Named vs. Victorian Novel Disease

The Incurable Cough of Death is a vaguely defined illness with few apparent symptoms aside from coughing that will lead to a character's death.
A Soap Opera Disease is a vague illness that allows a character to die over a long time and milk the situation for drama.
The Disease That Shall Not Be Named is a known disease with known symptoms. However for reasons of social taboo it is never referred to directly.
Victorian Novel Disease refers to the way that pure-hearted Victorian characters tend to be dying from tuberculosis as the symptoms tie into Victorian concepts of purity.

Index Syndrome vs. Medical Tropes

Index Syndrome covers pages whose titles sound like the names of medical conditions.
Medical Tropes covers pages that are actually about medical conditions.

Indy Ploy vs. Strategy Schmategy

Indy Ploy describes situations where a character does not initially have a plan, but improvises on the fly.
Strategy Schmategy describes situations where a character has no idea what is going on, and behaves randomly.

Insufferable Genius vs. Too Clever by Half

An Insufferable Genius is a very smart character with a serious attitude problem who annoys the other characters.
A Too Clever by Half character is an Insufferable Genius who additionally feels the need to actively prove him/herself, and as a result tends to fail spectacularly.

Instrument of Murder vs. Musical Assassin vs. Senseless Violins

Instrument of Murder is when a normal weapon is disguised to look like an instrument.
Musical Assassin is when the instrument itself can be used as a weapon, and/or the music it produces can be used to attack.
Senseless Violins is when a normal weapon is concealed in an instrument case.

Insult Backfire vs. Stealth Insult

Insult Backfire is when a statement meant to be taken as an insult is instead treated as a compliment.
Stealth Insult is when an insult is hidden so that the target won't realize that he's been insulted.

Internet Backdraft vs. Flame Bait

Internet Backdraft is a particular issue that, when brought up, typically causes a Flame War.
Flame Bait is a list of tropes which are so controversial that they've been forbidden to be posted anywhere.

Intoxication Ensues vs. Mushroom Samba

In a Intoxication Ensues, a character (un)knowingly ingests drugs and begins acting strangely.
In a Mushroom Samba, a character ingests drugs (unknowingly or otherwise) and begins hallucinating wildly.
- Overlap is common, but a character in a Intoxication Ensues will often react strangely to real-world situations, while a character in a Mushroom Samba may react perfectly rationally to nonexistent stimuli.

Invisible Main Character vs. Invisibility

Invisible Main Character: Invisibility as a one shot situation, often uncontrolled, and rarely ever mentioned again. Often used to give an actor a vacation.
Invisibility: Invisibility as a mostly intentional, stable, recurring superpower, such as a magic ring or potion.

Ironic Echo vs. Meaningful Echo

An Ironic Echo occurs when a prominent line of dialogue is repeated in an ironic context -- sometimes changing the meaning to be something opposite, and sometimes showing a character's change of mind.
A Meaningful Echo occurs when a minor or easy-to-miss line of dialogue is repeated or alluded to in order to increase the emotional tension of the scene, in order to enhance the meaning the original line already had.

I Want My Jetpack vs. Magic Floppy Disk vs. Science Marches On vs. Tech Marches On vs. Our Graphics Will Suck in the Future vs. Zeerust vs. Zeerust Canon

I Want My Jetpack is about how a person reacts to futuristic things becoming out of date in real life.
Magic Floppy Disk is about inventions that are out of date when the work was made.
Science Marches On is about science that was state of the art becoming out of date when a work is seen later.
Tech Marches On is about inventions that are state of the art becoming out of date when a work is seen later.
Our Graphics Will Suck in the Future is specifically about computer displays and graphics in story that are state of the art becoming out of date when a work is seen later.
Zeerust is about something that was originally futuristic becoming out of date when the work is seen later.
Zeerust Canon is about something futuristic becoming out of date, as in Zeerust, and later prequels or sequels continuing to use it even though it's out of date.

I Will Fight Some More Forever vs. Attack! Attack! Attack!

I Will Fight Some More Forever: A character continues to pursue his chosen conflict, be it war or checkers, long after it's clear that they can't win.
Attack! Attack! Attack!: A character continues to throw himself and/or his forces at an enemy, suffering heavy losses/damage, long after it's clear they can't win.