Popular Story Cliches You're Sick of Seeing

[3113]

Obviously, it's hard to find anything original under the sun, and obviously, there are cliches we all like in our stories even if they're old and antique. For example, the well-worn cliche of the girl and guy who dislike each other at first sight and then fall in love. It's certainly a threadbare one, but if I'm reading or watching a romance, I expect it and don't mind it at all.

But then, there are these cliches, currently popular ones, that I'm really sick of seeing. A lot of them done to death in modern novels and movies and television shows.

Like the evil albino. Can someone explain to me why the person with the white hair and pale eyes is instantly and unquestionably evil? Does the good get leached out with the pigmentation? Also the ultra-smart bad guy. I don't think the bad guy should be stupid, by why does he always have to be this effete evil genius who is defeated by our less-bright-but-brave-hero? I'm tired of angst-ridden dark-haired vampires and sexy-but evil albino vampires (who are, often, also effete and oh-so-smart), and elaborate vampire groups with queens and nests and such.

And are we done with serial killers yet? And heroes who have to do what they do because it's "personal" ("He killed my wife and daughter!"), and conspiracies with big, ultra-rich, tech-savvy corporations running them?

*Sigh*

What current, popular cliches are you sick and tired of?

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Novels about angst-ridden New Yorkers bemoaning their dysfunctional families. Movies about the end of the world. Oh, so darling films about animals behaving the way we wish people would. Shall I go on?

 

[Firebrain]

Dude. You need the Evil Overlord List:

http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html

 

[lovecraft68]

Obviously, it's hard to find anything original under the sun, and obviously, there are cliches we all like in our stories even if they're old and antique. For example, the well-worn cliche of the girl and guy who dislike each other at first sight and then fall in love. It's certainly a threadbare one, but if I'm reading or watching a romance, I expect it and don't mind it at all.

But then, there are these cliches, currently popular ones, that I'm really sick of seeing. A lot of them done to death in modern novels and movies and television shows.

Like the evil albino. Can someone explain to me why the person with the white hair and pale eyes is instantly and unquestionably evil? Does the good get leached out with the pigmentation? Also the ultra-smart bad guy. I don't think the bad guy should be stupid, by why does he always have to be this effete evil genius who is defeated by our less-bright-but-brave-hero? I'm tired of angst-ridden dark-haired vampires and sexy-but evil albino vampires (who are, often, also effete and oh-so-smart), and elaborate vampire groups with queens and nests and such.

And are we done with serial killers yet? And heroes who have to do what they do because it's "personal" ("He killed my wife and daughter!"), and conspiracies with big, ultra-rich, tech-savvy corporations running them?

*Sigh*

What current, popular cliches are you sick and tired of?

If we're doing cliche's how about vampire's in general. Or better yet as a lifelong horror fan that goes way back how about an end to what Ann Rice started;
Whiny wimpy tragic tale vampires who are so "beautiful" and yet so "melancholy" and they are seeking love. Makes me want to puke Vampires are immortal killing machines. They are undead and they love it! They are bad ass and they love it!
Want a real Vampire? read Robert Mcammeron's They thirst. Classic origins but great new takes especially "Kobra" the ex hells angel turned Vampire.
Better yet Brina Lumley's Necroscope series take about Evil? they would rip Lestat's head off and shit down his cry baby throat!

2nd stereotype? Zombies. They are back again seems like they drift out of horror culture and resurface every so many years. Some one needs to shoot them in the head for good.

 

[jomar]

Dude. You need the Evil Overlord List:

http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html

Excellent!

 

[jomar]

Oh, prime time doctor shows and variations.

 

[jomar]

While I'm at it the creature feature mix may get old real soon. The Gates was kind of fun, and there's a new show about a werewolf, vampire and ghost. Guess it had to happen.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Dude. You need the Evil Overlord List:

http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html

Ah, yes. The dear old eviloverlord. Thank you for reminding us.


Another annoying plot cliche': A villain who continues to ruthlessly accumulate money instead of retiring to a quiet villa on the Costa del Oro and enjoying life.

 

[lovecraft68]

Ah, yes. The dear old eviloverlord. Thank you for reminding us.


Another annoying plot cliche': A villain who continues to ruthlessly accumulate money instead of retiring to a quiet villa on the Costa del Oro and enjoying life.

Okay I have to ask, I see you post all the time and I love that pic. Who is the lovely lady in front of the bear?

 

[Firebrain]

[shameless plug] My Alpha article, dans mon sig, is also all about cliches in contemporary fiction [/shameless plug]

 

[lovecraft68]

Oh one more I thought of that practically gets me yelling at the screen at this point. The villain who has the hero who he has wanted to kill for years dead in his sights or helpless and instead of killing him outright has to run his mouth or do something complicated instead of just blowing his fucking head off.

 

[Bebeslut]

And heroes who have to do what they do because it's "personal" ("He killed my wife and daughter

Hey, it worked for Sam Spade.
"When someone murders your partner, you have to do something about it." (Hammett could say so much, and use so few words to say it.)

I agree about the supernatural characters, though. Who needs these vampires?

 

[DarianBlack]

Everyone having an ENORMOUS penis (seriously... Comon. Keep it under 8 inches every once and a while)

Non-consensual turning into omgsexslave.

The general lack of weirdness with characters. The weirder you make em, the more realistic.

 

[lovecraft68]

Everyone having an ENORMOUS penis (seriously... Comon. Keep it under 8 inches every once and a while)

Non-consensual turning into omgsexslave.

The general lack of weirdness with characters. The weirder you make em, the more realistic.

Okay I will admit to guilty to the main character having the enormous member (but it fits as part of his undying arrogance is that he is the true "alpha" Male)

However as for weird
The brother and sister in my incest series are practicing satanists. have hardcore S&M sex (pisses off the incest purists once got a "that's no way to treat your sister comment). The sister is a recovering coke/alcoholic and is an under ground goth artist. The brother is a paranoid schizophrenic who before diagnosed had a voice in his head telling him what to do including almost killing someone. Their real father is in a mental institution (same voice) and they were separated at a young age and reunited in a foster home years later. She was sexually abused, he was abused anytime he spoke.
If that's not weird enough for you I didn't try hard enough.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Okay I have to ask, I see you post all the time and I love that pic. Who is the lovely lady in front of the bear?

That's an odd story. I was doing a google image search for women and bears and I came across this young lady's blog with this photo she'd had a friend snap of her and the stuffed griz. The blog disappeared shortly afterward and I suspect that it was because of all the catty, snarky comments other young (?) ladies posted on the site. They claimed to be horrified that anyone would show themselves in such a position and called her all the usual insulting names. So unfortunately, I don't know. Someone did say that they they thought it was shot inside the UCLA bookstore so she is likely either a Bruin coed or graduate. But that's a lot of people!

 

[JustaSCOUNDREL]

Oh, prime time doctor shows and variations.

My wife will hate both of us for this. Dr. shows ain't going to go away. They have been on for nearly 50 years.

The first one I remember was Ben Casey which started in 1961 and ran for several years. Markus Welby MD quickly followed. Then you know the rest. St. Elsewhere, Chicago Hope, ER, et al. Ad nauseam.

 

[lovecraft68]

That's an odd story. I was doing a google image search for women and bears and I came across this young lady's blog with this photo she'd had a friend snap of her and the stuffed griz. The blog disappeared shortly afterward and I suspect that it was because of all the catty, snarky comments other young (?) ladies posted on the site. They claimed to be horrified that anyone would show themselves in such a position and called her all the usual insulting names. So unfortunately, I don't know. Someone did say that they they thought it was shot inside the UCLA bookstore so he is likely either a Bruin coed or graduate. But that's a lot of people!

Hey thanks for the story, it's just one of those things that there is something about her. The picture is funny more than risque to me (course we are on a sex site so we're jaded) anyway I think she's just girl next door adorable and was wondering if it was someone you knew.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Hey thanks for the story, it's just one of those things that there is something about her. The picture is funny more than risque to me (course we are on a sex site so we're jaded) anyway I think she's just girl next door adorable and was wondering if it was someone you knew.

At my age, she would be just a favorite niece or something. Hot Mama would not approve of my associating with someone that pretty and that much younger.

 

[Bebeslut]

Okay I will admit to guilty to the main character having the enormous member (but it fits as part of his undying arrogance is that he is the true "alpha" Male)

However as for weird
The brother and sister in my incest series are practicing satanists. have hardcore S&M sex (pisses off the incest purists once got a "that's no way to treat your sister comment). The sister is a recovering coke/alcoholic and is an under ground goth artist. The brother is a paranoid schizophrenic who before diagnosed had a voice in his head telling him what to do including almost killing someone. Their real father is in a mental institution (same voice) and they were separated at a young age and reunited in a foster home years later. She was sexually abused, he was abused anytime he spoke.
If that's not weird enough for you I didn't try hard enough.

Oh, poo. There are three families like that just on my block.

 

[lovecraft68]

At my age, she would be just a favorite niece or something. Hot Mama would not approve of my associating with someone that pretty and that much younger.

Yeah I'm married as well but you know its like a diet just because you can;t eat it doesn't mean you can't look at the menu.

 

[lovecraft68]

Oh, poo. There are three families like that just on my block.

I'm in Rhode Island. Your block is probably the size of my state!

 

[DarianBlack]

Okay I will admit to guilty to the main character having the enormous member (but it fits as part of his undying arrogance is that he is the true "alpha" Male)

However as for weird
The brother and sister in my incest series are practicing satanists. have hardcore S&M sex (pisses off the incest purists once got a "that's no way to treat your sister comment). The sister is a recovering coke/alcoholic and is an under ground goth artist. The brother is a paranoid schizophrenic who before diagnosed had a voice in his head telling him what to do including almost killing someone. Their real father is in a mental institution (same voice) and they were separated at a young age and reunited in a foster home years later. She was sexually abused, he was abused anytime he spoke.
If that's not weird enough for you I didn't try hard enough.

That's not THAT weird... but it'll do. However, you are in the minority. Most characters on Lit are nothin but a penis/vagina with other, less important orifices.

 

[vrosej10]

Yeah I'm married as well but you know its like a diet just because you can;t eat it doesn't mean you can't look at the menu.

Good one dude! i myself like to peruse the menu in shopping malls with a coffee. I think people who think once you're married that you'll stop looking are both underestimating the amount of stimulation humans get from the visual and the persistance of the sex drive. I say that i don't care where my husband gets his appetite, just as long as he eats at home. I really don't understand those women who have a problem with their hubbies watching porn...

 

[lovecraft68]

That's not THAT weird... but it'll do. However, you are in the minority. Most characters on Lit are nothin but a penis/vagina with other, less important orifices.

This is my favorite feedback since I have been writing here because I have worked my ass off to have me series not be what you just described. I had gotten a few claiming I was being to detailed. This made it all worth it.

Amazing

That has got to be the most in depth, detailed and believable story I have ever read on here. Hat's off to you for an amazing piece of work. I look forward to more of the same style from you. I almost can't wait to start the next section.

 

[vrosej10]

I AM deadly sick of the guy and girl hating each other and then falling in love. It's not very realistic and it has been done to death. I mean when was the last time you hated someone only to turn around and love them? It has never happened to me.The tortured vampire and shoe obsessed woman have also had their day too.