Breaking Down Plot Conveniences

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[@merphynapier42]

Sorry about that Narnia example, it's been a while since I've read it so I clearly forgot some things. I hope my bad example doesn't interrupt the discussion on plot conveniences! I've enjoyed reading which ones frustrate you guys the most

[@marshwiggle8364]

No problem your still respectowiggle 👍

[@avapaull3814]

I thought it was a good example. That part has always bothered me, honestly. I just remember thinking it was really convenient for him to show up and give them each the exact weapon/tool that they would need later on.

[@seventy3r]

I remember your video "doesn't make sense" harry potter book 2

[@norsekingcole]

You said he was one of your favorite authors though! Good enough for me!

[@Gcherry64]

Possible Narnia spoilers? I don't really think so. Honestly, I loved the part that you said was convenient. I thought it made a lot of sense to happen and to show that the Witch's power was fading because Aslan was there. Also, I don't really think it made the thing that was impossible more possible, I thought of it more as slowly preparing the children. I have a ton of nostalgia connected to the book, so it's really hard for me to dislike anything about this book. I don't take any offence from your opinion, this is just mine. :)

[@Evanlyn11]

The one I really dislike is when the characters are supposed to be really close and know each other well, but the tiniest inconvenience/problem makes them jump to conclusions, they DON'T EVEN TRY to communicate (even though it's completely out of character).

[@gregoryhenry8464]

I immediately thought of Harry Potter

[@MartiasMuses]

Yes! I feel like I have been lied to when that happens...

[@NathanMellor]

Like Avengers:Civil War and Batman vs Superman?

[@ApequH]

Almost every romcom

[@farahfarzana8752]

​@@gregoryhenry8464same here! I thought of Harry and Cho

[@lostschedule51]

For me, the worst part is when characters don't know how to communicate and that affects the plot. "Oh, this is very important, but I'll keep it secret even though that character will hate me as a misunderstanding". The other one is "hello, stranger who happens to be the Chosen one, let me tell you everything you need to know. No, don't ask me questions. I trust you with all my secrets."

[@niks3632]

this bothers me so much! best example: holdo in last jedi. just take 10 seconds to tell your plan but noooo we need this muteny to happen.

[@bernhardrenner5176]

The latter imo applies to Shadow of the Wind by Zafon.

[@Hirnknaker]

@@niks3632 hmmm.... yeas i hate that , ore i have no time to explain that, and then they walk 5 minutes ore speak 5 minutes something else.... But holdo, you can explain that easy, poe was degraded, why should i tell some whon who can not follow orders (in the military) some thing so importent. And was happent when he knows the plan? I tells finn, and the code breaker heras it and the plan fails. Holdos idea to tell no one, except the 2 ore 4 hight ranks makes absolut sense. Also you don't know realy to trust, because ofe spies.

[@thewritingreference2629]

Especially when it's done to lengthen a story that's already stretched beyond it's breaking stress.

[@Philistine47]

@@niks3632 I don't know. It's true that Holdo is an awful officer by any military standard: she's improbably bad at communication and leadership, and somehow, hilariously, even worse at planning and tactics. But it does sometimes happen IRL that complete liabilities achieve high military rank, even in professional militaries - let alone purely ideological quasi-militaries which can't be bothered to train new recruits, where _doctrinal reliability_ is often the only "ability" that high command cares about in officers. And it's not like Holdo's incompetence in failing to share her plan (or even that she _has_ a plan) with her demoralized, near-mutinous crew is a one-time thing, either, as literally every decision she makes over the course of the movie is not just wrong but _bafflingly_ wrong. Thus IMHO her ineptitude is a consistent character trait rather than a plot convenience.

[@FebbieG]

"Always winter, but NEVER CHRISTMAS" Father Christmas is more than *just* a plot convenience.

[@marianamenegati3738]

Exactly! It's a symbol of the witch's reign finally starting to end!

[@justfriendly7676]

I agree with most of her points but that example was just a bad one.

[@FebbieG]

@@justfriendly7676 Agreed. She makes such good points.

[@sadiemaxfield7566]

True

[@junebugtea6654]

Yes! This!

[@sampew1605]

I agree. The worst part is getting pulled out of the story. You’re in it so deep then suddenly you go “oh right. This isn’t real “

[@RudeAlert]

Yup, the ultimate crime as an author is reminding your readers that they are reading a book.

[@jegjeet]

@@RudeAlert, what do you mean by this statement? Sorry if I misinterpreting it. Isn't that's best part about books or any art in general? Artist and we share knowledge that it's not real and artist can go wild with own imagination without any bond of reality.

[@RudeAlert]

@@jegjeet My post was simply agreeing with the initial poster and with Merphy. When you're reading a book, you want to be in IN the story, you don't want to be pulled out of it by bad writing and be reminded that you're actually just sitting on a chair/couch/bed/whatever, holding a book in your hands.

[@dovelyy]

oh my god i read this as "Breaking Dawn Plot Conveniences" and immediately thought "wait, you've read twilight? and continued up to book four??" lmao

[@TrainerJames88]

Now we need a Twilight series review on the channel!

[@MartiasMuses]

:D

[@isabelladeangelo8474]

It takes a strong author to let their characters do something stupid

[@sheldonwong12]

I don’t know if this counts, but I really dislike when conveniences also apply to relationships (whether platonic or romantic). It feels as though the relationship is unearned and that sucks!

[@Rikrobat]

It definitely counts. There is often more nuance to the discussion-like the story framing a bad relationship as healthy because reasons-but I have seen the “relationship convenience” thing happen too many times. Relationships are complicated. We don’t just bond with no issues because stuff needs to get done.

[@MartiasMuses]

Totally agree.

[@alexanderwheeler3943]

I am convinced any time C. S. Lewis wrote things like Santa Clause that is obvious "bad writing" he did it to intentionally give Tolkien an aneurysm, because that's what friends do

[@Grace-td5dd]

Apparently Tolkien said he couldn’t put Santa in it so that’s exactly what he did

[@alexanderwheeler3943]

@@Grace-td5dd "You can't just write Jesus as a lion!" "Watch me. And for good measure I'm gonna put Santa Clause in it too." *eye twitch*

[@thelegitpotato1248]

@Alexander Wheeler *Im dead* 😂

[@annaarmstrong8525]

Ok. So, was the whole Santa Clause Narnia thing convenient? Yes. BUT, I disagree that he didn't fit in the world. Throughout the story we are told that it is eternally winter. When Lucy is talking to Mr Tumnus, he tells her that it is always winter but there is never Christmas. So Santa Clause coming served the greater purpose of showing how the curse was slowly breaking. (and yes, the story was already doing this in other ways so it was probably unnecessary... but still.) Anyways, it didn't bother me too much. But I definitely see how it could be incredibly annoying to others.

[@g.davidturnblom5751]

I'd also argue that Father Christmas was also elsewhere in the world of Narnia, as evidenced by the animals who are petrified by the White Witch when she comes across them on her sledge. Plot convenience maybe, but not quite limited to the one scene.

[@cephandriusmaxtori2112]

Narnia is a really whimsical story and I was not at all surprised by the Santa Claus. Maybe it's because I read it as a children's story ( it's supposed to be one) but I thought it was a nice addition to the world. Narnia is also a very much Christian based story, at one point Aslan says that he was there in this world just with a different name and I am assuming he meant the God. So Santa in Narnia? Completely plausible.(in my opinion of course)

[@MagusMarquillin]

It's not even that plot convenient: he gives them weapons and a horn and some healing juice that weren't needed right at that point - Peter did use the sword soon after that, but really he could have been given any sword once he got to Aslan's camp to "prove his spurs" against Maugrim and Susan used the horn, but in this context it wasn't that much more magical then calling for nearby help - really it's just much more grand to be given your own special sword by Sinterklaas himself, followed by Spring in a few hours. It helps the Pevensies accept that they have an important role here. Otherwise the scene is cool because it's a dramatic fake out, you think the witch has caught up to them and has Mr. Beaver, but instead it's freaking Santa packing heat! That's a great moment for a kid to read - unfortunately Murphy has a cold Grinch heart. :P JK

[@poggies7639]

You and Tolkien have a bone to pick then (I’m kind of neutral on the whole situation but I do find it funny Lewis basically put it into the series because Tolkien said he couldn’t)

[@annaarmstrong8525]

@@poggies7639 Wait he did?!? I'm laughing so hard rn. That just made my whole day.

[@katieschroeder7022]

Random fun fact about the Father Christmas appearance, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were good friends, but had different ideas about fantasy. Tolkien was a fantasy “purist” in the sense that he didn’t think it was okay to mix Greek mythology (fauns, centaurs, etc.) with Christian tradition (Father Christmas). Lewis had no problem with that and I personally think that this might be part of the Father Christmas is in there. I like to think he added him mostly to get on Tolkien’s nerves.😂

[@kohakuaiko]

I agree.

[@vazzaroth]

Right, and all of Narnia is references/remixing of Christian lore. It makes sense he'd live in THAT world... but I know it DOES feel random to have him show up in a story that's not about him, due to cultural tradition. Lewis didn't do anything objectively wrong from within the novel world... but it FEELS wrong to readers. So, debatably, it IS wrong then. Either way, I think it's mainly a difference in his contemporary audience VS modern. To us, Santa is a big corporate joke. To readers just a few decades ago, he is probably more "pure" and like a god, an embodiment of joy and giving. The "REAL" santa, the pagan one.

[@rubywojcik]

Same reason he put a LAMPOST in Narnia XD it's so petty it's great

[@lucyamclarenauthor]

Not a book but biggest example I can think of recently is..... (mild spoiler for Wonder Woman 1984)..... Wonder Woman suddenly having the power to make things invisible. Never done it before in other films, doesn't use it again in that film.

[@nerdy_nurse]

Ok but Santa shows up as proof that the White Witch’s hold on Narnia is loosening. The Narnians tell the kids it is always winter but never Christmas so when Santa arrives we know things are changing..

[@merphynapier42]

ah sorry about that, it's been a while since I've read it so it's very possible I've forgotten some things

[@ElynevanOpzeeland]

while true, it still feels as a daux ex machina ;-)

[@pamelatarajcak5634]

And symbolic of the fact that for Lewis, Aslan=Jesus. So of course Christmas and hence the Incarnation would happen. Aslan=Jesus has come all ye faithful. And now Christmas and St. Nicholas.

[@1amdremer]

Ya fully disagree on the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Bad example. Its worked into the story before, its not get out of conflict trump card, they still have to fight and use the tools they were given. Also it was referred to further on through the books, even though Father Christmas didn't return to the books, Edmund had to remind the others that he wasn't there to get a gift in Prince Caspian when they get their presents out of storage.

[@pamelatarajcak5634]

@@ElynevanOpzeeland actually. The real deus ex machina is not Santa but Aslan's resurrection. Lewis's stand in for Whom he considered the real Deus.

[@Ava-qv5wu]

The only type of plot convenience I like is when it happens because of an unreliable narrator "Oh no we can't fight" *suddenly, weapons* "That solves it then"

[@dhenderson319]

Lol i like that.. but is that an unreliable narrator tho?

[@chestersnap]

The immediate example that come to mind for me is the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. But then the entire thing is absurdist so having something conveniently appear fits the theme

[@leonmayne797]

Merphy creates the Duolingo of reading.

[@luuuuux_]

She’s definitely not as aggressive as the owl though

[@martinpankov2736]

Plot Convenience: Merphy Napier: "You need a website to continue your quest/journey? I give you Squarespace. OK, I am off! Bye!"

[@sternentalerswald]

Yes, I totally thought this would happen!

[@Tatersthezebra88]

It's my understanding C.S Lewis put Santa Claus in the story just to annoy Tolkien. It's one of my favorite parts because of that and honestly I don't think the weapons do anything for the plot because the battle was never the main point. I think its funny that people get annoyed about it just like Tolkien though. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@whowhatwherewhy1434]

Glitter&Coffee have to add...I think it is about the provision of providence giving us what we need for the moment...it happens in real life...why not in magical lands

[@3dstuff654]

Oh boy the plot convieniences when the hero is losing and this random guy we've never seen before has the answers to all of the hero's problems and then dies 20 seconds later 😂

[@luuuuux_]

The accuracy of this statement

[@Alias_Anybody]

Not to be confused with "The Cavalry" trope, when some type of expected/established reinforcement arrives.

[@chadpoorman5055]

Regarding Narnia. One must remember that the series is also allegorical to the effect that Aslan obviously mirrors Jesus. Thus, Father Christmas plays the role of the Holy Spirit. He comforts and encourages the children and then equips them to fight the good fight.

[@FebbieG]

❤️

[@mireilleoppenheimer6662]

easily one of the best squarespace ads on booktube

[@priyanshibagga4434]

UNCLE IROH! I have lost my honour !

[@melvinlinderoth7108]

KZbin*

[@emmaelias5875]

Would love a "dear readers" style video where writers get the chance to talk about the other side, and about the struggles and joys of writing!

[@gowzahr]

I once attended a university lecture where the guest speaker, a CS Lewis scholar, talked about how all his friends told him he should remove Santa, but Lewis insisted that he had to be in it. The guest lecturer then went on to explain his theory as to why that was.

[@MrMerlin1896]

I love the plot convenience of the Ta'veren in Wheel of Time. It's very much *wink wink, nudge nudge, eh?*, but I found it super enjoyable how the main characters kept getting frustrated by it and trying to escape lol

[@timidalchemist8475]

Jordan knew plot armour that he legitimately made it a In-universe aspect, which is really interesting.

[@jua-nia]

cursed child is full of these

[@perryfox6060]

I think you mean "All of Harry Potter is full of these..."

[@feeeshmeister4311]

Perry Fox At least Harry Potter was enjoyable though.

[@who_the_fuck_is_riley5813]

@@feeeshmeister4311 Sometimes. Not always

[@hi-kc5jf]

At one point in the video, you said that the world fades away and everything in the book is real when you're reading. And then you wondered if that was normal. I'm now telling you, it happens to me too!

[@arjenachten5849]

The ad is just Merphy becoming the Duolingo owl

[@merphynapier42]

I won't pretend I wasn't thinking this while filming it

[@ScientistsReadingWorld]

i wait when a character is like i am only a healer of small wounds and when needed its like i can revive dead, be a necromancer and also i can not be killed xD

[@armanisar-feinial1789]

You see, thats when you do the "here's Johnny skit" To be fair, if santa clause came to my christmas and gave me Excalibur, I'm not going to be mad.

[@hell_crow9023]

I really like to see a video of the characters you mourned for years or moments where you cried while reading... with spoilers of course

[@Tatersthezebra88]

I kind of think not having plot convenience is actually unrealistic. I mean it's like watching an episode of "I shouldn't be alive." And being mad that the helicopter rescued the stranded survivors of a plane crash. Sometimes its realistic that things are convenient and when people keep begging for highstakes impossible situations in fantasy they get upset when there is an equally impossible element of fantasy that gets the characters out of their conundrum. Only they call one (the rescue) unrealistic and the other (the impossible situation) realistic and creative. I think as long as its well written and entertaining I don't tend to care about plot conveniences in what I read.

[@shadowblackheart7556]

Same, that's what I thought too. If the characters constantly have to fight and struggle, it would be nice if they get one thing easily, imo.

[@nyx4078]

Merphy, I can confidently say your ads are amongst the best I've seen. P.S. Holding 'the Lies of Locke Lamora' upside down, I see...

[@DogWalkerBill]

The CW Flash is REALLY bad for keeping stupid secrets. "Let's not tell Barry about this!" For the next 10 episodes, Barry is acting wrongly because nobody will tell him the truth.

[@aecholapis]

Sad but true

[@cybersketcher1130]

Is that show still on

[@crazybookcanary8941]

@@cybersketcher1130 yes

[@mediumjohnsilver]

Douglas Adams’ Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy had the most outrageous plot conveniences, BUT they were constructed in a way that made them so delightful. As when Ford and Arthur were ejected into deep space from one space ship and were rescued in the nick of time by another BECAUSE it was the most quantifiably improbable thing in the universe. The spaceship that rescued them had an infinite improbability drive.

[@LindsayKitson]

I love how Lloyd Alexander did things in many of his stories; he didn't do it as a plot convenience, but instead had the unexpected help come as a result of things the MC did earlier in the story - The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen is the best example, it's one of those stories where the MC helps a series of other characters early in the story, then in the climax, those three characters appear to help him in the climax.

[@100lovenana]

I love that in stories too! It doesn't count as a plot convenience because the unexpected help is a Reaction to a previous Action that the MC did. Cause and effect is very important in storytelling, and this trope embraces it.

[@tt_tube7978]

The most recent star wars trilogy is FULL of these things. It's maddening

[@who_the_fuck_is_riley5813]

The new Star Wars trilogy is like the war. It doesn't exist in Ba Sing Se

[@pRahvi0]

To be honest, there are quite a few even in the original trilogy. Maybe it was the Force guiding the actions.

[@Bashbroder]

Harry Potter, lord of the rings, animes etc, many has these

[@jacobmoeller5345]

Can you call it a plot convenience when there isn't really a plot?

[@jakerockznoodles]

@@Bashbroder That Godamn Phoenix literally resolved the entire of the Chamber of Secrets ending. "Hey Harry, here's a sword! Hey Harry, let me stab out the snake's eyes! Hey Harry, let me heal that wound for you! Hey Harry, here's that diary you need to destroy to resolve the plot!" At least in the film Harry kind of figured out that last bit on his own and the venom in his body wasn't dealt with until *after* he destroyed the book.

[@seandoherty8858]

So I fully understand it isn't great for when you're trying to enjoy a story, but when a "plot convenience" happens to you in real life it is greatly appreciated! (I'd call it miraculous)

[@laveyanist]

One enjoyable subversion of a plot convenience is in A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore, there's a literal book of 'Hey, do this thing, and if you don't everything will go to hell quite literally' that the main character is sent by one of the other characters, but the book gets intercepted by his angsty teenage employee who was just petty and thought the book was too cool to go to him. The interception of the book partially served in allowing the conflict to start, and when he finally gets the book, it helps him to figure out wtf to do.

[@andup4936]

I'm here to say thank you for everything you do! You helped me through tough times.Lots of love from Romania.

[@heervora8667]

Ahhhh i love these kind of analysis or breakdown videos! For some reason i just find them sooo entertaining 😂 Also fantastic video Merph keep up the continuous great work❤

[@Maybenotaboringlife]

I would like to point out, the best example of getting around plot convenience Wheel of Time, mat. I’m on book 5 now, his ability with luck, basically is plot convenience, but has reason in the world with reason. It’s absolutely perfect.

[@rysivek]

Glad you found my comment valuable enough to include here! I'm honored 😊

[@charmishing]

The other thing about plot conveniences is that often times if you set them up and give them a purpose other than solving the “problem,” they carry more weight. You could have a romance with two characters of unequal social status where one of them finds out they’re secretly royal which solves the problems. Likewise, you could set up the pieces for that to happen but use it to create new issues and new opportunities for the characters to grow. You can also explore the idea that power easily gained or problems quickly solved have real consequences you may not be ready for.

[@orionspero560]

Things that are convenient for the characters and plot in the short term but actually have an enormous catch are a lot of fun. The classic example of this is when the character giving the convenient thing is doing so in order to induce the characters either to do it their way or to do something they otherwise couldn't

[@devpriyagoel]

Plot conveniences really deteriorate the reading experience for me. The most recent ones I can recall are in the first 3 books of sufficiently advanced magic series. A lot of characters just keep going in and out of the stories whenever the plot demands it and no explanation is given for their absence.

[@JohnSkiWrites]

I loved this video and I couldn't agree with you more on this subject. As a new writer and a long time reader I get frustrated when I read stories doing things like this but I know I've done it myself so I cant complain too loudly. Great content yet again though keep up the amazing work Merphy.

[@bb_reads]

This was a great discussion Merphy! Totally agree with what you said. Also that add was so good. I love watching your adds. :)

[@chryssie22]

Amazing video ! I literally agreed with everything you said 😂 I am glad I found a booktuber who gets me❤ Love from Cyprus🇨🇾

[@ham5097]

I am currently watching the Queen's Gambit, and it's driving me nuts because at every chess play Beth plays, I can tell with so far 100% accuracy if she's gonna win or lose, just because it's pretty clear what the plot needs. I don't know if that counts, it's not even a book, but I see only praise for the show and wanted to vent, haha.

[@adrija2726]

That angry Micky hoodie is 😍

[@jennayoung9811]

Random thought: the resurrection trope is a form of plot convenience.

[@jayp.7042]

I LOVED THIS♥️😍if you have the time, please do more videos like this, I really enjoyed this it.

[@1perspective286]

As soon as you said Chronicles of Narnia I thought "she's going to talk about Santa." The funny thing is that I was a kid when I read those books, so to my child brain it seemed very realistic and I wondered why more fantasy books didn't feature Santa.

[@abbys6260]

The wonderful wizard of oz is basically about a journey through the magical land of plot conveniences

[@blobbypanda1613]

Rest in peace Fred and Dobby, I still haven't got over it 😨😢😭😢 😔

[@thesamuraiman]

I love your "Dear Author" vids, but this casual chatting style was also great as well

[@katynetti1261]

Wow I’m realizing that a lot of the books I read have big plot conveniences, but I tend to roll my eyes and say something like, “ha of course”. And move past it because I expect it?

[@imperfectlyedie935]

As a new author, this is very useful information for me. Just listening to this video, I can already pick out areas in some of my rough manuscripts where I've probably done this, so thank you! Very educational! :)

[@UdyKumra]

I think plot conveniences can work in some cases, like if you want to show that your character isn't good enough yet to solve a problem and needs to be saved, or if you want to tease that your character's psychology is more complex than first glance and so you make them act in a weird seemingly out of character way to progress the plot. If you do it intentionally, you can really add to the story more than detract from it. That being said, it's generally a LOT safer to do this in the middle of the story than at the end, because then you can actually use the story to explain the plot convenience in this book rather than in the sequel.

[@FebbieG]

The really frustrating thing is that you *can* have things seemingly pop up out of nowhere to move the plot along, they just have to be foreshadowed first. Authors, just throw in a couple clues in here and there. The people who figure it out will feel really smart, and the people who don't will have a satisfying "I should have known" moment. An excellent example is in the Fablehaven books. I knew who one of the bad guys was, and everyone I talked to about it thought I was wrong. The reveal was so satisfying.

[@Hammy900]

Honestly, these talks are helping me learn to figure how to come up with better ideas for the story I want to write.

[@tarnim80]

A good example is also in the later seasons in Game of Thrones (the show) when characters all of the sudden where able to pop up all over the world in no time just to move the story forward. Earlier in the show traveling took time and it made the show feel much more grounded and real.

[@chestersnap]

The concept of ta'veren seems pretty plot convenient sometimes. For example, when Perrin's trying to get stubborn Two Rivers folk to leave their farms and Jordan just lampshades the entire thing like "yeah, they wouldn't normally just abandon their farms like this but Perrin's ta'veren so woOooOOo". Some of the effects they have are pretty consistent and then others just crop up when they're needed

[@natasham6510]

Yes! You explained this perfectly! I absolutely cannot stand this when it happens like you said I get so invested, then a convenience happens it takes me right out. I has made me stop reading in the past. It feels lazy, if the writer had thought more and plotted out their stories more. Thank you for this vide! Love you lots Merphy! ❤️❤️

[@mascotwithadinosaur9353]

I can already imagine Merphy breaking into my house like: "ARE YOU READING YET?!"

[@amelias7559]

4:02. When you said “bye now” an ad popped up. 🤣 oh my gosh, the timing

[@mahreen8992]

Your delivery in this video is so freaking good.

[@ravenf6863]

Someone should write a book where all the tropes happen. The chosen one, wise old mentor, even some plot conveniences. Then at the end, it turns out that they weren't the chosen one, but instead, everything was a trick. Everything was a set up to get "the chosen one" to help the bad guys, and everything we thought was was a trope or plot convenience was just part of the bad guys plan

[@michaelburke4048]

You should see Spiderman: Far From Home.

[@ravenf6863]

@@michaelburke4048 I've been meaning to watch that since it came out, but never got around to it. I'll have to check that out soon

[@Orbinlee42]

I totally agree, causality matters! Or as the WONDERFUL show "Once Upon a Time" put it: "All magic comes with a price" Will you consider watching Once like you did Avatar???

[@KiraAustin42]

I would LOVE to see Merphy's reaction to Once!!! That show is definitely on theme for her!!!

[@heyyouyou1000]

I dont mind plot convinences when they are minor things in books, or when they been hinted all along, but it does bothers me in endings when it just makes the whole book pointless. Major plot convinience ive read is a character surving after being shot in the head and burried alive....

[@TheMindPlungers]

What ? Which book?

[@heyyouyou1000]

@@TheMindPlungers the girl who played with fire

[@hmms5256]

Love your square space ads so much 😂😂😂

[@vergulyanets]

I love your voice, very entertaining to listen to.

[@EhsJaySaunders]

...I actually like Santa showing up in LWW. The weapons gifted were unique, yes, but they didn't really use them until after they'd reached Aslan's army, and they could have gotten weapons there, instead. The horn really doesn't do anything incredible until the next book. The only fully-utilized thing they wouldn't have had otherwise was Lucy's healing cordial, which she used to bring back a wounded Edmund. But, by that point, Aslan was back anyway, who could have handled the same easily enough. It just gave Lucy a way to step up and save her brother. I see the random Santa moment mostly as a choice by Lewis to show that, "Hey, even the greatest of magical legends acknowledges Aslan's sovereignty." It's also an early nod before the other books showed it that there are multiple ways of traveling between worlds. Plus I like how Santa's depicted in the Walden version as a kind of Nordic warrior.

[@whowhatwherewhy1434]

S.J. Saunders have to add...I think it is about the provision of providence giving us what we need for the moment...it happens in real life...why not in magical lands

[@AndYouWillBeWithMe]

the ad at the end had me rolling!

[@thewitchyreader6131]

I definitely try to avoid that in my published books. I like it where my characters find a rational way out of their mess, as rational as fantasy can get. 😂😂😂😂

[@ShoeLessJoseph]

But in the lion the witch and the wardrobe the characters constantly talks about how the witches power kept it winter but never Christmas. The appearance of Father Christmas is evidence of the witches weakening power because Asian has returned. I wouldn’t call that plot convenience I’d just call it lore. Maybe I’m wrong. That’s my defense of Lewis. Plus Lewis throws other outside of narnia characters in his books, like Bacchus and Silenus in prince caspian. Okay, I’m done rambling. Just remember my two cents aren’t worth much.

[@hhoi8225]

Right, I think Lewis was using Father Christmas as part of the overall mythos in the same way that he used Celtic and Roman and Greek characters/types throughout the series. Also Father Christmas would be considered a Type of Christ, one could argue that there are many Types of Christ in addition to Aslan throughout.

[@merphynapier42]

ah sorry about that, it's been a while since I've read it so it's possible I've forgotten some things

[@holeyheartedmelissa4503]

I agree about Santa being a sign that things are changing in Narnia. Besides, I think the gifts go along with the analogy that they cannot do it on their own, they need help.

[@fuyushitarisou1]

Yaaaay, discussion video 💕 I just reread a darker shade of magic, and the only plot there is, is being forward through plot convenience (I even learned to spell the word correctly, because I ranted so much to my friends. There is one plot convenience that I like, that is when my characters got disbanded, and you do not know if the other part of the group shows up fast enough to prevent consequences and then they arrive and there is so much relief and they are badass and then I just go ahsjskkfkg XD

[@Yohannai]

Magic can also be a very easy plot convenience, usually in soft magic systems but it can happen in hard magic systems where someone is suddenly incredibly good at whatever magic can help with the situation. Its usually the main reason magic happens around the plot but shouldn't be used to suddenly solve a road block unless its justified and makes sense within the world and its characters. I think a series that does this well is Fablehaven. There is soft magic, all sorts of unknowns, and very high stakes, but its never unjustly earned if its used to escape a tough situation. The individual parts are built as hard fact and the exceptions are well explained and I don't think they're world breaking. It would have been incredibly easy to take the easy way out of all of these situations if Brandon Mull had written himself into a corner, but he didn't and that's why I still love coming back to the series.

[@lindapenttinen3382]

What if, let's say the minor character, who turns out to be a much important later on, got a vision from higher power and he/she has to save the main character or someone dear to them to fullfil the highter power's will as the opposite would cause the world to take a much darker turn? It is a plot convenience?

[@spaantz]

If the idea of a higher power is totally out of left field for a story then I think people might consider it a little cheap, but if the world is something more like Lord of the Rings then it would make more sense

[@louisehad]

It depends on the world, like Spaantz said. If prophecies and visions exist and don't feel out of place, it works. I think it also depends the "minor character", how he reacts to things. If he learns his fate during the story, we have to feel that something changed. If he already knew it, that would still have an impact on his relationship with the main character. It can work very well, with a bit of foreshadowing.

[@thewritingreference2629]

If the minor character reveals this after receiving a stab wound while protecting the MC and dying, no. Otherwise, the situation may be salvageable, depending on execution.

[@valerielinares2068]

I hadn't read the Chronicles of Narnia, the first book in many years. But now that you brought it up, it reminded me of that part you're talking about. I remember reading it again thinking, "wait, wut? Did they just say Santa?" LOL! It made no sense in the context of the book!" I mean, if J.K Rowling could come up with ways to give Harry, Ron, and Hermione some tools to help them on their journey to find and destroy horcruxes, and ultimately defeat Voldemort, certainly other authors can find creative ways to help their characters get the tools they need to defeat their nemesis...

[@patrikstinner3967]

I think you were more than right focusing on fantasy for this specific video! A lot of the time, fantasy stories fall into the trap of "it's a magical world so ANYTHING can happen" - NO! Anything within reason, anything within your well-established magic system and world can happen. I hate when characters find a magical device or weapon that happens to be just the right to defeat the Dark Lord - it's easy, convenient, and cheap. I loved your video! Since you apparently take fan suggestions/requests, I was wondering if you could make a video on book recs for elemental magic by any chance? I'm a HUGE fan of elemental magic, Avatar the Last Airbender was my entry into fantasy, so this is THE magic for me. Anything from the 4 basic elements, through deep connection with nature (kind of like blue Avatar?), to Mistborn's metals. As far as I know, you like this type of magic too, so I'd love to hear it! Love you videos, keep it up! 💙

[@thatsci-firogue]

Abercrombie's easily my favourite fantasy author. Can't wait to read Sharp Ends and his new trilogy.

[@fredyphoenix]

“The wheel weaves as it wills when it wills.” Thanks Robert Jordan! >_

[@Dynelf12]

The Magicians TV Show has a side character that has plot convenience levels of luck and can make charms that give the wielder the same kind of luck, but the charms are paired with an anti-charm that someone else must hold onto and will force that person to suffer for every convenience that the other person receives. Like equivalent exchange but with luck instead of matter.

[@susanbuckminster282]

Thank you !

[@rishabhdave5773]

I read the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe a couple years ago, so I thought "that can't have actually happened in the book". I had to look it up in the wiki to believe that yes, Santa Claus (Father Christmas) literally shows up and gives all the Penvensies magical weapons.

[@joelsilvey9046]

Wanna say i disagree with the santa Claus bit in narnia. In the book earlier it's stated that the witch makes it winter but never christmas and seeing father christmas coming it's one a sike out because at first they think its the witch and secondly it shows her power over the land is waning and even tho the path ahead is hard there is hope!

[@whowhatwherewhy1434]

Joel Silvey have to add...I think it is about the provision of providence giving us what we need for the moment...it happens in real life...why not in magical lands

[@MBeccaro]

"Convenience is a terrible way to take characters out of a problem. Good to put them in harm's way though" - Aaron Sorkin

[@askfjk1102]

i heard that CS lewis added the Santa Claus bit because it specifically pissed off Tolkien who he was friends(ish) with at the time. Truly an accurate example of a friendship between two writers

[@elinapant12]

It has been a while since I watched you and I was so surprised by the camera quality haha

[@MusicBlik]

There's a great moment in Frank Delaney's novel "Ireland" where some random barkeeper tells the MC exactly what he needs to know to move his character arc forward. It feels like a massive plot convenience bordering on ludicrous - I stopped reading and shouted, "How in the WORLD could you KNOW that!?" Later on, however, after a Big Reveal it turns out there was a perfectly good reason for the barkeep to know that information and bring it up to the MC at that time. I'm not sure whether that's a lampshade of this trope or a subversion, but I loved it.

[@youtubeviolatedme7123]

These sponsored sketches get funnier each time I swear

[@joshgoldenberg4398]

Deus ex machina- An unexpected power or event saving a seemingly hopeless situation, especially as a contrived plot device in a play or novel

[@thewritingreference2629]

It may work if the presence of the 'deus' in question is indicated in some way before the event, even if it's not explicit.

[@thecraziestcrayon]

My least favorite is "I know this key piece of info, but I'm gonna keep it to myself until the last minute and then be like 'here's everything you need to know'." Like does no one know how to communicate (side eye-ing you Dumbledore) or "I tripped and fell into a hole, but there happens to be an ancient artifact down here that can help me with everything. Good thing I'm clumsy!"

[@metaltsigga]

"ARE YOU READING?!" picks up book upside down xD

[@sharonefee1426]

I can't even think of one... Including the one you mentioned (I read the book and watched the movie, but it was long ago)

[@breezy3392]

I love Santa showing up in Narnia 😂

[@DisArt95]

Predicting Merph will bring up Chamber of Secrets Edit: daaaaang I was really confident she would lol

[@siennaluprano8573]

... or just the entire Hp series ... there’s quite a few lol 😝

[@DisArt95]

@@siennaluprano8573 😹 very true

[@pearlh841]

@@siennaluprano8573 yup. So much convenience in one series 😂

[@manjy5927]

Same man, i was waiting for it

[@rachelthompson9324]

This is how you fix a plot conveniences. You back up and write in a foreshadowing aspect so when it appears it was subconsciously expected.

[@johannageisel5390]

Santa Claus gifting swords is also a thing in Terry Pratchett's "Hogfather". ^ ^

[@anthonycurrie5065]

Characters I’ve mourned: Oromis and Gleadr (Christopher Paolini inheritance cycle) Queen islanzadi (inheritance cycle) Kuric (David Eddings, Elieum trilogy) Livie (Cassandra Clare, Lord of shadows)