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Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
The standard [[Premiere]] plot, which makes up about 75% of TV premieres and [[Pilot|pilots]], in which a single new member [[How to Gather Characters|comes into an established group]]. This gives the writers an easy way to introduce the characters and all the most relevant facts about them as the new member, as ignorant as we are, gathers information. If the group is a workplace, more often than not the new member is a [[Naive Newcomer]].
{{cleanup|This trope is "a single new member comes into an established group." As of the addition of this banner, every example lists only the single member, leaving off the group that the member is joining. The groups need to be added.}}

The standard [[Premiere]] plot, which makes up about 75% of TV premieres and [[pilot]]s, in which a single new member [[How to Gather Characters|comes into an established group]]. This gives the writers an easy way to introduce the characters and all the most relevant facts about them as the new member, as ignorant as we are, gathers information. If the group is a workplace, more often than not the new member is a [[Naive Newcomer]].


See also [[Rookie Red Ranger]], [[Everyone Meets Everyone]], [[One We Prepared Earlier]], [[Debut Queue]].
See also [[Rookie Red Ranger]], [[Everyone Meets Everyone]], [[One We Prepared Earlier]], [[Debut Queue]].
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{{examples}}


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{{examples}}
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
* Ranma Saotome in ''[[Ranma ½]]''.
* Ranma and Genma Saotome move into the Tendo household in ''[[Ranma ½]]''.
* Yukito in ''[[AIR]]'' comes into town and meets everyone in the first episode.
* Yukito in ''[[AIR]]'' comes into town and meets everyone in the first episode.
* Sasahara and Kosaka in ''[[Genshiken]]''.
* Sasahara and Kosaka in ''[[Genshiken]]''.
* Linna in ''[[Bubblegum Crisis 2040]]''.
* Linna in ''[[Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040]]''.
* [[Naive Newcomer]] Ai Tanabe in the ''[[Planetes]]'' anime. The manga starts several months before her arrival.
* [[Naive Newcomer]] Ai Tanabe in the ''[[Planetes]]'' anime. The manga starts several months before her arrival.
* Contrast the above with Noa Izumi of ''[[Patlabor]]''. Heck, Planetes is Patlabor [[Recycled in Space|IN SPACE!!]].
* Contrast the above with Noa Izumi of ''[[Patlabor]]''. Heck, Planetes is Patlabor [[Recycled in Space|IN SPACE!!]].
* Guts in the ''second'' episode of ''[[Berserk]]'', as the entire anime series is set up as a [[How We Got Here]] for the very first episode where Guts is the Black Swordsman, a [[Demon Slaying]], [[BFS]]-wielding [[Badass]] [[Roaring Rampage of Revenge|out for revenge]] against [[Face Heel Turn|his former best friend]].
* Guts in the ''second'' episode of ''[[Berserk]]'', as the entire anime series is set up as a [[How We Got Here]] for the very first episode where Guts is the Black Swordsman, a [[Demon Slaying]], [[BFS]]-wielding [[Badass]] [[Roaring Rampage of Revenge|out for revenge]] against [[Face Heel Turn|his former best friend]].
* Ebisu from ''[[Ebisu-san and Hotei-san]]'' is introduced this way when Ebisu transfers from a corporate city head office to a local suburban branch office.
* Ebisu from ''[[Ebisu-san and Hotei-san]]'' is introduced this way when Ebisu transfers from a corporate city head office to a local suburban branch office.
* In the very first episode of the [[Kirby of the Stars|Kirby anime]], Kirby crash-lands in Dreamland and is introduced to Cappy Town by Tiff, Tuff, Lololo and Lalala and welcomed to it by the Cappies. They even build him a new house for him to live in in the second episode.
* In the very first episode of the [[Kirby: Right Back at Ya!|Kirby anime]], Kirby crash-lands in Dreamland and is introduced to Cappy Town by Tiff, Tuff, Lololo and Lalala and welcomed to it by the Cappies. They even build him a new house for him to live in in the second episode.
* ''[[Hanaukyo Maid Tai]]''. The first episode of each series, as Taro becomes the new head of the Hanaukyo family and meets the mansion's maids.
* ''[[Hanaukyo Maid Tai]]''. The first episode of each series, as Taro becomes the new head of the Hanaukyo family and meets the mansion's maids.
* ''[[Sora no Woto]]'''s first episode is about the main character meeting pretty much everyone and walking around the setting.
* ''[[So Ra No Wo To]]''{{'}}s first episode is about the main character meeting pretty much everyone and walking around the setting.
* Miho Nishizumi transfers to Oarai Girls High School in the first episode of ''[[Girls und Panzer]]'', and the [[Absurdly Powerful Student Council]] forces her into a particular school club.


== [[Comic Books]] ==
== [[Comic Books]] ==
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* Toybox in the first issue of ''[[Top Ten]]''. Later played very differently when Joe Pi joins the team.
* Toybox in the first issue of ''[[Top Ten]]''. Later played very differently when Joe Pi joins the team.


== [[Fan Fiction]] ==
== [[Fan Works]] ==
* Calvin and Hobbes in ''[[Calvin at Camp]]''.
* Calvin and Hobbes in ''[[Calvin at Camp]]''.


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* [[Maze Runner]] starts with the protagonist having amnesia and being unkindly welcome by the surviving group in the maze.
* [[Maze Runner]] starts with the protagonist having amnesia and being unkindly welcome by the surviving group in the maze.


== [[Live Action TV]] ==
== [[Live-Action TV]] ==
* Mr Parker in ''[[McHales Navy]]''
* Mr Parker in ''[[McHales Navy]]''
* Kyle in ''[[Kyle XY]]''.
* Kyle in ''[[Kyle XY]]''.
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* PC Carver in ''[[The Bill]]''.
* PC Carver in ''[[The Bill]]''.
* Carter in ''[[ER]]''.
* Carter in ''[[ER]]''.
** Also the reboot of sorts with Lucy Knight at the start of season 5.
** Also the reboot of sorts with Lucy Knight at the start of season 5.
* Rachel in ''[[Friends]]'' (although she already knew Monica and Ross -- [[Retcon|and was subsequently revealed to have already met Chandler a few times as well.]])
* Rachel in ''[[Friends]]'' (although she already knew Monica and Ross -- [[Retcon|and was subsequently revealed to have already met Chandler a few times as well.]])
* Elaine in ''[[Taxi]]''.
* Elaine in ''[[Taxi]]''.
* Diane in ''[[Cheers]]''.
* Diane in ''[[Cheers]]''.
* Tim Bayliss in ''[[Homicide: Life On the Street]].''
* Tim Bayliss in ''[[Homicide: Life on the Street]].''
* Buffy in ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]''.
* Buffy in ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]''.
* Jenny in ''[[The L Word]].''
* Jenny in ''[[The L Word]].''
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* Mary in ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]''.
* Mary in ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]''.
* Jeremy in ''[[Sports Night]]''.
* Jeremy in ''[[Sports Night]]''.
* ''[[CSI]]'' subverted this trope in a major way by having a [[Welcome Episode]] premiere which ended with [[Naive Newcomer]] Holly Gribbs [[Stuffed Into the Fridge|getting shot dead]].
* ''[[CSI]]'' subverted this trope in a major way by having a Welcome Episode premiere which ended with [[Naive Newcomer]] Holly Gribbs [[Stuffed Into the Fridge|getting shot dead]].
** Then played straight when Sara Sidle is brought in to replace her/act as an independant investigator.
** Then played straight when Sara Sidle is brought in to replace her/act as an independant investigator.
** Then played straight again when Ray Langston joined the team.
** Then played straight again when Ray Langston joined the team.
* ''[[CSI: NY]]'' did it with Lindsay. She kept getting all the messy jobs, even after the first ep,and eventually remarked to Mac that it was getting a little old.
* ''[[CSI: NY]]'' did it with Lindsay. She kept getting all the messy jobs, even after the first ep,and eventually remarked to Mac that it was getting a little old.
* Jack Carter in ''[[Eureka]]''.
* Jack Carter in ''[[Eureka]]''.
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* The first episode of ''[[30 Rock|Thirty Rock]]'' featured both Jack Donaghy and Tracy Jordan meeting everyone else. This is a bit of an untraditional example in that Jack and Tracy are about the most insane characters on the show and everything was (relatively) pleasant before they came along.
* The first episode of ''[[30 Rock|Thirty Rock]]'' featured both Jack Donaghy and Tracy Jordan meeting everyone else. This is a bit of an untraditional example in that Jack and Tracy are about the most insane characters on the show and everything was (relatively) pleasant before they came along.
* The eponymous [[Merlin (TV series)|Merlin]].
* The eponymous [[Merlin (TV series)|Merlin]].
* Annie, and, in a sense, the flat, in ''[[Being Human]]''.
* Annie, and, in a sense, the flat, in ''[[Being Human (UK)]]''.
* ''[[Power Rangers]]'' uses this tactic with their [[Rookie Red Ranger|Rookie Red Rangers]] in seasons 10 (Wild Force) and 13 (S.P.D., with slight modifications to the formula).
* ''[[Power Rangers]]'' uses this tactic with their [[Rookie Red Ranger]]s in seasons 10 (Wild Force) and 13 (S.P.D., with slight modifications to the formula).
* Chuck in ''[[Pushing Daisies]]''.
* Chuck in ''[[Pushing Daisies]]''.
* Done in ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'', with whom is somewhat up to debate, with Robin joining the existing group, but the kids being the ones who are getting the information about everyone.
* Done in ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'', with whom is somewhat up to debate, with Robin joining the existing group, but the kids being the ones who are getting the information about everyone.
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* Penny in ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]''.
* Penny in ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]''.
* Jess in ''[[New Girl]]''.
* Jess in ''[[New Girl]]''.
* Number Six, the eponymous prisoner in ''[[The Prisoner]]'', joins the other prisoners in The Village in the pilot episode.


== [[Theatre]] ==
== [[Theatre]] ==
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* Kevin in ''[[Mission Hill]]''
* Kevin in ''[[Mission Hill]]''
* Mac and Bloo in ''[[Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends]]''.
* Mac and Bloo in ''[[Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends]]''.
* Caitlin in ''[[Sixteen|6teen]]''.
* Caitlin in ''[[6teen]]''.
* [[Green Lantern|Hal Jordan]] especially in the animated adaptation, introduces the audience to the [[Green Lantern Corps]] this way.
* [[Green Lantern|Hal Jordan]] especially in the animated adaptation, introduces the audience to the [[Green Lantern Corps]] this way.
* Dudley Puppy in [[Tuff Puppy]].
* Dudley Puppy in [[Tuff Puppy]].
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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Beginning Tropes]]
[[Category:Beginning Tropes]]
[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:Character-Centered Episode]]
[[Category:Welcome Episode]]
[[Category:White Collar Tropes]]
[[Category:I Need an Index by Monday]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Latest revision as of 13:57, 28 July 2023

The standard Premiere plot, which makes up about 75% of TV premieres and pilots, in which a single new member comes into an established group. This gives the writers an easy way to introduce the characters and all the most relevant facts about them as the new member, as ignorant as we are, gathers information. If the group is a workplace, more often than not the new member is a Naive Newcomer.

See also Rookie Red Ranger, Everyone Meets Everyone, One We Prepared Earlier, Debut Queue.

Examples of Welcome Episode include:

Anime and Manga

  • Ranma and Genma Saotome move into the Tendo household in Ranma ½.
  • Yukito in AIR comes into town and meets everyone in the first episode.
  • Sasahara and Kosaka in Genshiken.
  • Linna in Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040.
  • Naive Newcomer Ai Tanabe in the Planetes anime. The manga starts several months before her arrival.
  • Contrast the above with Noa Izumi of Patlabor. Heck, Planetes is Patlabor IN SPACE!!.
  • Guts in the second episode of Berserk, as the entire anime series is set up as a How We Got Here for the very first episode where Guts is the Black Swordsman, a Demon Slaying, BFS-wielding Badass out for revenge against his former best friend.
  • Ebisu from Ebisu-san and Hotei-san is introduced this way when Ebisu transfers from a corporate city head office to a local suburban branch office.
  • In the very first episode of the Kirby anime, Kirby crash-lands in Dreamland and is introduced to Cappy Town by Tiff, Tuff, Lololo and Lalala and welcomed to it by the Cappies. They even build him a new house for him to live in in the second episode.
  • Hanaukyo Maid Tai. The first episode of each series, as Taro becomes the new head of the Hanaukyo family and meets the mansion's maids.
  • So Ra No Wo To‍'‍s first episode is about the main character meeting pretty much everyone and walking around the setting.
  • Miho Nishizumi transfers to Oarai Girls High School in the first episode of Girls und Panzer, and the Absurdly Powerful Student Council forces her into a particular school club.

Comic Books

Fan Works

Film

Literature

  • Maze Runner starts with the protagonist having amnesia and being unkindly welcome by the surviving group in the maze.

Live-Action TV

Theatre

  • In both the movie and the original Broadway production of 1776, Dr. Lyman Hall of Georgia is only a supporting character, but his arrival in Philadelphia provides an excuse for the rest of the cast to introduce themselves to him (and to the audience).

Web Comics

  • Chapter One of Everyday Heroes, where Mr. Mighty and family meet the neighbors. Also in Chapter Three, where he finally gets around to meeting the rest of his teammates.
  • In the Whateley Universe, the intro stories for Sara Waite (Carmilla), and then Chou Lee (Bladedancer), as they meet the rest of Team Kimba.
  • Willow, new arrival to Earthsong.

Western Animation

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