My Favorite Tropes

[@MagillanicaLouM]

Always cool for the term "tropes" to not be presented automatically negatively.

[@glanni]

So true! I thought that too. I love tropes and the fact that we're able to categorize and name them nowadays. Only because we do that doesn't make the fact that tropes exist bad. They existed before we had names and values for them.

[@glanni]

@@hendrikscheepers4144 True, but with the mere concept of tropes I also realized a weird behavior. I can't talk for everyone, but to me it was a life-changing experience to first learn about tropes. I'm a bit of a pattern seeking nerd who tried to understand tropes before even knowing there's a glossary for them, so I love reading about tropes. But I also realized that the understanding of them sorta disenchanted storytelling a little. I'm no longer a viewer in awe, but I observe the magician's tricks. Not everyone is as happy with that place though. Some people love stories for the entertainment, not so much for the mechanical parts, so they don't actually like seeing how a story is composed. And thus, when they realize tropes are there, they feel disappointed. There's truth in the saying "TVTropes will ruin your life". But your point is as valid and there. Seeing tropes as an independent concept soon leads to mixing it up with clichés that we try to call out and purge, instead of as tools that we try to understand and utilize. What this trope issue reminds me of is of music theory. Someone who studies it a little bit might not enjoy a lot of songs anymore if they think too hard about the composition.

[@Jellybeansatdusk]

Almost everything is a trope. What people actually dislike are clichés, and even then they’re popular for a reason: people like them. A cliché doesn’t even necessarily have to be a bad thing, especially if it’s presented in a new way or a way that subverts it.

[@varenoftatooine2393]

It's basically impossible to write a book without tropes.

[@IvanoForgione]

sometimes we need to feel that thing we like, again and again. It's like four chord songs, sometimes you hate them, other times you can't ever get enough of them.

[@bellevoor]

I appreciate how Merphy likes Found Family and is also trying to adopt a kiddo. The math checks out.

[@patrick_dy3r]

Life imitating art!

[@maem7462]

Found family is amazing

[@handhelder823]

What exactly are found families? Just a group of Friends?

[@Emancy3]

@@handhelder823 a group of people who aren't blood related but act just like a family

[@handhelder823]

@@Emancy3 as in, with designated roles, or...?

[@lostschedule51]

I completely agree about friends to lovers. I also want platonic friendships, but a relationship that starts with people who knew each other is so much better than insta love. At least they know their qualities, flaws and how they work together.

[@maem7462]

I completely agree with that as well. As much as I want more platonic friendship I also love friends to lovers

[@MarjoleinVeenendaal]

As a person who married to the person who she was friends with for 3 years before getting together as a couple, this is my favorite thing to read. In the same vein I really struggle with enemies to lovers, I just don’t understand how that could ever work.

[@maem7462]

@@MarjoleinVeenendaal I do enjoy a good enemies to lovers but it is more difficult to pull that off

[@skullknight1465]

I hate this trop so much, the same goes with instant love, they both suck for me😂.

[@lostschedule51]

@Julia Lerner A really good execution for enemies to lovers is Pride and Prejudice

[@lillythai7939]

Merphy: spends almost 2 minutes describing her love for the desert. The devastation, the hope, the despair Me: It's bloody hot

[@pemryjanes5789]

And the sand, it's coarse, rough, it gets everywhere.

[@bibliophilecb]

Haha right? I basically grew up in the desert and...nope!

[@jesschris7079]

@@pemryjanes5789 🤣🤣

[@lillythai7939]

@Mr Temporal that is true, but in my mind an adventure through a humid jungle seems epic. A quest via sandy planes... I will politely decline 😅

[@jaycejohnson6846]

Bentley: What is it, Major Lawrence, that attracts you personally to the desert? Lawrence: It's clean.

[@athousandsplendidstories2235]

Found Family is an elite trope. Even when it's not done well, it makes the book better. AND WHEN IT'S DONE WELL OOOOOO

[@dawica]

Murphy: "I love mentor figures" Doesn't mention Iroh

[@ayeshaanam3201]

I swear.

[@tegelstenen4178]

EXACTLY

[@Emma.S.]

The master of mentors

[@aronnemcsik]

I almost flipped my table...

[@zcpl1727]

Iroh from avatar and Reigen from Mob Psycho 100 are my all time favorite mentors

[@almogdov]

Almost 9 minutes till we got to Found family?! Does Harry Potter and the Weaslys count? Harry hugging Molly when she gives him the watch for his 17th birthday brings tears to my heart.

[@kenna176]

I feel like the Harry/Hermione/Weasley dynamic absolutely counts.

[@taylorhagen3916]

It definitely counts

[@killer92173]

@@kenna176 yeah I really like the dynamics of the main trio in Harry Potter!!

[@IDoNotFeelCreative]

Now I wanna write a poorly written book that has nothing but these tropes and see how Merphy would react

[@davidmauriciogutierrezespi5244]

I wanna see that video, so much :)

[@Lulubast]

I would read that book

[@jayferguson9968]

Go the next step, and try to ruin her tropes? Do them *that* badly...?

[@davidmauriciogutierrezespi5244]

​@@jayferguson9968 then get M. Night Shyamalan to do a movie with all this tropes and let the train wreck begin!!!

[@ender4344]

@@davidmauriciogutierrezespi5244 :eyes:

[@maem7462]

I do really appreciate morally gray characters. They’re so interesting to read about and see what they’re going to do and maybe see what’s going on in their mind and see how they came to a certain conclusion. It gives the story a sense of realism and some potential risks

[@andrewmalinowski6673]

Snape! He was the most morally-grey character in Harry Potter, spends so much time seeming antagonistic towards Harry until you realize the reason in Deathly Hallows. Merphy's right, black-and-white hero and villain characters are boring, Legend of the Seeker did well with Richard Cypher, Kahlan Amnell, and Darken Rahl

[@josephdavis9234]

I love this very specific trope. A story starts off pretty lighthearted and has a rather comedic villain that the main characters beat with ease frequently. Then later as the story gets darker there's a new, more serious and dangerous villain who not only makes the first villain look like a joke but actively treats them as one. But then the original villain is the one who ends up defeating the new villain.

[@zhoradaiyu5184]

Adhd and attempting to multitask made me watch this twice in an hour

[@missmysterious5769]

Non-book recommendations: For a small town setting where everybody knows everybody and the town has secrets(shows): 1)Dark 2)Gravity Falls For stuck in a time loop(movie): Edge of Tomorrow

[@ronentanezer2912]

Re zero is perfect for something simillar to edge of tomorrow only in epic fantasy setting.

[@frank7411]

Dark is soooooo good!

[@joshgoldenberg4398]

Gravity falls is great!!!!!

[@thaissabbatino1409]

Dark is also time loop

[@jasonroberts5375]

Gravity Falls is such a fantastic show. I will keep re-watching it forever.

[@bellevoor]

I'm a sucker for coming-of-age stories. They hit me right in the soul

[@AndYouWillBeWithMe]

I'm early and I'm using this opportunity to tell you my fiance bought me Lies of Locke Lamora for my birthday and it's 100% because of you haha

[@almogdov]

Won't be surprised that many bought it because of her. Muself included. It is very good

[@merphynapier42]

I hope you love it!

[@wraith.ferron]

Merphy: loves talking inanimate objects. Also Merphy: hates talking animal companions.

[@ashleyelisabeth4]

I'm the same way though lol. The only books that I don't mind with a talking animal companion is His Dark Materials because the animal is supposed to be the person's soul or subconscious speaking to them.

[@Eagle_Owl2]

@@ashleyelisabeth4 I'm the opposite. I mostly enjoy talking animals (unless they're only there for comic relief) but hate talking objects. The only exception so far being the talking sword Löwenzahn (Dandelion) in the book Rumo from Walter Moers :D

[@ashleyelisabeth4]

@@Eagle_Owl2 Yeah, with talking objects and animals it always depends with how they're used in the story otherwise I'm not going to like it.

[@killer92173]

@@ashleyelisabeth4 I really like Animal Farm. I think that book is perfect with the setting and love that you follow all these Animals.

[@bobomcfoe]

yeah i'm there with her

[@katruth]

me: i'm not addicted to stories about a rag-tag group of morally grey characters going on an epic heist.... also me: *oh hi locke- ok fine yes yes you are my weakness*

[@mykneehurts7436]

You should read six of crows

[@بهشادبشردانش]

@@mykneehurts7436 no

[@بهشادبشردانش]

Try best served cold instead

[@awannabeauthor6456]

The best relationships come from true friendships. Lust doesn't last, but friendship does.

[@MagillanicaLouM]

Ya know, when you said you were starting One Piece I wasn't picturing Zoro to end up being a big time favorite of yours, but it's pleasant to hear. You'll love how he grows I bet.

[@berserker8884]

Yeah and she hasn't even seen him do much, except for wiskey peak and mr1. Can't wait to hear her reaction to nothing happening.

[@inspiringer6418]

What Zoro is doing right now will blow her mind

[@berserker8884]

@@inspiringer6418 no question about it.

[@savannah4439]

When you talk about the ridiculously intelligent but socially inept character paired with a more normal character who puts up with them...I’m a sucker for that in TV shows! Bones is a great example of this!

[@jujunorman4695]

Sheldon Cooper

[@jianfalco2133]

Dr. Reid 😁(Criminal Minds)

[@EmiZViolet]

Death in Paradise & Doctor Who!!

[@Createdbysophistic8ed]

The Mentalist

[@gamestarz2001]

There's this one book I read where this brute but soft guy is crossing the desert when he hallucinates a door through which there is a portal world containing a small coastal town where everyone is hiding a secret, namely that they are all planning a heist, and in this town he finds a new family including an awkward/rude ridiculously intelligent yet wise mentor with the power of elemental magic, a sassy morally grey AI he would die for, and a talking inanimate water bottle he knew as a child who becomes his lover. Can't remember what it's called though

[@Elena-tz9ev]

oh my god stop!!!!!

[@kabhikhushikabhigham8259]

Oh, I've read it too. It's the Napier Archives.

[@Loganva]

💀💀💀 Seriously though that sounds like an AMAZING book

[@erinyes3943]

Are you for real?? Is this a thing??

[@gamestarz2001]

@@erinyes3943 It depends how you define "real." And "thing." And however you define them, the answer is no.

[@matheusvmoraes]

Old wise mentor, was my favorite trope as a teenager, especially Gandalf, Dumbledore, and I'm glad you mentioned Brom! As I'm re-reading Eragon it felt so memorable to me, as it was the first epic fantasy series I've read.

[@christine0068]

I love strong platonic friendships. That’s one of the main things I have a problem with with the Throne of Glass series. It just feels like everyone has had romantic feelings for everyone at one point or other and I just want something to stay PLATONIC. Romance isn’t the ONLY relationship one can have PEOPLE

[@ameliapepper5332]

I have a collection of mentor character pop figurines in my classroom because my students know it’s my favorite trope ever! And they’re the teachers I want to be.

[@Sssssssssssssssssssssss817]

The character type that I can always read without any problem is the charming, clever and supporting mentor. Like Kelsier

[@o.k.e7337]

Kelsier,from what book??

[@Sssssssssssssssssssssss817]

@@o.k.e7337 mistborn

[@Sssssssssssssssssssssss817]

@@justebernotaite 😄

[@o.k.e7337]

@@Sssssssssssssssssssssss817 Thanks

[@Sssssssssssssssssssssss817]

@@o.k.e7337 your welcome. If u like fantasy u should try it

[@angg9260]

Rick Riordan actually has a lot of the tropes you talk about in this video. They’re not really in Percy Jackson and the Olympians but in his other series there is (there may or may not be a sassy annoying talking sword in Magnus Chase)

[@vihashah5975]

Yep the talking arrow from trials of Apollo too!

[@SM-hl6hh]

But the OG series is still the best

[@Idontknow-th9iq]

Apollo's Shakespearean arrow😌

[@figthegiant9324]

Ah yes Jack😌

[@cifge_404]

The only Rick Riordan I ever read was The 39 Clues I think. I always meant to check out his other work but never got to it.

[@kathab8826]

Hahaha Merphy has become a OP fan very quick! 😂 Zoro is also my favorite because for him to consider someone as his “nakama” you have to earn it first, but then he would go to hell and back to keep you safe 💚

[@rohitbabar8715]

Murphy : I love platonic friendships Also Murphy : friends to lovers is my favorite trope

[@hotplotsandsynonyms]

I mean....you can't be in a relationship with EVERYONE. Why not both?!?

[@rohitbabar8715]

@@hotplotsandsynonyms agreed. Btw which one do you prefer between friends to lovers and enemies to lovers

[@rohitbabar8715]

@@a.morphous66 best example: One day

[@xaviercopeland2789]

@@a.morphous66 explain how this works for me please since my brain can’t comprehend this right now 😂. How is it friends to lovers if they stay platonic?

[@xaviercopeland2789]

@@a.morphous66 and adding a romantic bond would then make it romantic. They aren’t mutually exclusive. If you get into a romantic relationship, you are no longer in a platonic relationship. They’re two separate things. As soon as you bring romance, it changes the whole dynamic. You can still like each other and be best friends, but it’s no longer platonic then. You just happen to have a romantic relationship with your best friend.

[@efoxkitsune9493]

Found family might be my favourite trope ever! I'm SUCH a sucker for that. Be it a mentor-student bond turned almost parental or any other of the many ways it can be done - just YES PLEASE. Another one is a redemption arc. I just love it. I want to see a deeply fallible character, someone who's made some horrible mistakes, gradually get to the point of realization, remorse and finally redemption. They have to go through the process tho, not just be redeemed through one big gesture. Last one, I just love deep, strong and entirely platonic friendships.

[@emblogger7658]

Jane Austen's Emma did the friends to lovers trope SO WELL. I was really inpressed with that romance

[@EmiZViolet]

The Emma Approved series showcased that aspect of the novel so well!

[@hamsa9925]

I am currently reading the Two Towers…And I am currently in love with Sam and Frodo’s friendship!!!

[@PirateQueen1720]

So many good friendships in LOTR! Frodo and Sam are great, but I might love Legolas and Gimli even more - going from a background of prejudice to totally inseparable with a fun, sassy dynamic. They don't always get each other's interests (trees, underground rocks) but they support them, and Legolas even delays leaving Middle Earth with his people (for centuries, if I remember correctly) to keep hanging out with Gimli. (Hmm. That kind of sounds like I ship them. Not originally, and not necessarily. But Frodo x Sam is way too sad and has weird class dynamic, so if you were going to go there...).

[@hamsa9925]

@@PirateQueen1720 I absolutely agree with you on Legolas and Gimli’s friendship!! I might be able to decide whether I like Sam-Frodo more than Legolas-Gimli, after reading The Return of the King though…Legolas and Gimli’s friendship developed so gradually, yet so wonderfully! ( I don’t ship them, but I can absolutely see why one might)

[@maliatfirst9]

I immediately go soft over mentor type figures. And im thinking of Jiraiya and Kakshi from Naruto. 😭

[@erinyes3943]

Same

[@rikjansen3500]

I think you first paired the trope tier list video with a positive video talking about books you love, even though they contain the tropes you hate

[@Nickilob2006]

a trope i really love is lovers to friends . there is a series i saw excecuting it very well ; one of the male main characters and one of the female main characters were introduced in the beginning of the first season as a couple . later that season they broke up ( because of reason i can't explain because they're too complicated to explain lol ) , but then later that season and on other seasons they became like best friends , and they even helped each other with getting the one they loved .

[@theoutsider8226]

Curious what series this was?

[@Nickilob2006]

@@theoutsider8226 it's an Israeli series, so I doubt that you can see it ;') (unless you know Hebrew)

[@bonniestevens4329]

For the inanimate object trope I recommend The Trials of Apollo and The Magnus Chase series by Rick Riordan.

[@taylorhagen3916]

I forgot that, all I could think of was Beauty and the beast Luminare and cogsworth and mrs.pot and chip

[@bonniestevens4329]

@@taylorhagen3916 beauty and the beast is always a worthy inclusion!

[@figthegiant9324]

Yes yall people know your stuff

[@evelove879]

Oh my gosh totally, I was just thinking JACK when she said that

[@princesschelsea1558]

My all time favorite couple trope is definitely the one is sunshine and one is darkness 😂 I also love the sassy inanimate object trope! I immediately thought of Calcifer from Howl’s Moving Castle ❤️

[@robertminnie782]

3:48 One of my all-time favourite examples of this trope is GLADOS from the Portal games. Simply a classic. "The cake is a lie."

[@electrabarnett5892]

I don’t know why but I love when the setting turns to a group of character traveling somewhere and they have to set up camp, sit by the fire, take turns sleeping, etc, it never get old to me.

[@purusingh6085]

She loves inanimate object trope, then she had to love whole cake island arc in one piece.

[@GD-oe5ws]

Whole Cake is completely better when you read it as a whole instead of week by week.

[@jequangold1996]

Facts!! Can’t wait

[@KingOfKumquats]

Theres a lot of things that she lists that'd apply to OP lol

[@chantalegli8130]

@@GD-oe5ws Agreed, I reread the whole arc recently and it was sooo much better. Same thing with dressrosa

[@v.lighting3530]

I make a huge mistake by watching the arc as a anime instead reading it as manga.

[@taylor_green_9]

Fake dating is probably my favourite trope of all. I just see and dive right in

[@Obrezochki]

Have you read Six of crows? It's a heist story full of morally gray characters (AND there is the smart socially inept one who is paired with the confident one). I'd absolutely love to know what you think about this book!

[@cascsiany]

Six of Crows and Shadow and Bone. You've got a heist, Elemental magic, found family and more

[@shabditarajesingh6945]

That's my all-time favourite book!!

[@avsambart]

It was so wonderful seeing you so passionate about deserts

[@wonderscall6486]

I absolutely love Portal to another world. As well as strong platonic friends especially of opposite genders.

[@tontongopalvines7507]

The way you want to express all your emotions while talking about your favourite things is very amusing and kinda cute ☺️

[@henrywayne5724]

Mine is newfound family. Gosh! I'm a sucker for that. Also obsessed with Benjamin Ovich(I don't know how to describe him, those who've read Beartown, help me! I can't describe my fave character ever!) Oh yeah, and also, whatever trope Ove is in. I need more of that!

[@teganj9512]

I'm so with you with the inanimate object having a personality, I think my favorite is not from a book (uh oh!) Which is Dr. strange's cape.

[@johannageisel5390]

The Luggage from the Discworld is also great.

[@EmiZViolet]

I always enjoyed the Magic Carpet from Aladdin as a kid. Non verbal characterization is fun

[@FairladyZ2005]

Merphy: "I love heists!" Me - still waiting for Merphy to read The Queen's Thief series. Also, it's a TV show but I think you would really like Leverage. It's about a "found family" in modern day playing Robin Hood because "sometimes bad guys make the best good guys." I love old mentors, A.I. and inanimate characters, strong friendships, friends to lovers, elemental magic, found family, and portal fantasy too. Elemental series rec - Books of Bayern by Shannon Hale (You may have read the first book The Goose Girl already. Can't remember if that was you or Elliot.) Portal fantasy rec - The 10,000 Doors of January

[@borb5663]

A trope (?) I love is when a character who at the beginning of the story is inexperienced and receives guidance from a mentor, throughout the story gains skills and wisdom and consequentially becomes a mentor themselves.

[@Samtastic-rl8et]

I thought I didn't like generic tropes much but heist stories are the one plot I can not get enough of. inject them directly into my veins because I could live off them

[@Purple-ur2sc]

The way you described portal worlds is literally how most I feel when opening a book.

[@susanmccafferty4923]

Strong platonic friendships - not a book but I would love to see Merphys review of the BBC tv show Merlin. Merlin and Arthur might be the greatest bromance of all time.

[@Akigirl2004]

The bromance!! I love them so

[@akgwriting9481]

Oh my gosh I 💕 that show!!

[@christine0068]

I love their bromance so much. If anyone has any recommendations for books or tv shows or movies that have relationships like this please do tell!!

[@emilywest6346]

I’ve always loved the far away tree books which are for kids but have portals in it that transports the characters all types of different places

[@LyraValley]

When you were talking about the desert and then you put up the avatar clip of Sokka tripping up on cactus juice I genuinely thought you would say "when you've had too much cactus juice." And I was a little disappointed that you didn't.

[@johannageisel5390]

I expected that too! :D

[@lvincentee]

Small town with lots of sinister secrets? You mean the German netflix series called Dark?? If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s the best written series on netflix imo!

[@frank7411]

And it even has something else she mentioned in the video, but that would be spoilery talk. Merphy doesn't watch much stuff, though this one really deserves her attention.

[@AngstyRat]

I've heard it compared to Stranger Things a lot, would you say it's kinda similar? Stranger Things is my favourite show so anything similar to it I would like to watch

[@lvincentee]

@@AngstyRat Only the first episode feels a bit like Stranger Things but after that it’s way cooler than ST imo and I really like ST. This show is made with much more intent and planning, they planned 3 seasons and that’s what they did and you truly understand the whole story after that. With ST they only planned 1 season (I think, that’s what it feels like at least) and they did that one brilliantly, but other seasons are more like add-ons. That’s the big difference between the two for me. Dark asks much more involvement from the viewer and if you’re up for that, it’s one of the best shows!

[@AngstyRat]

@@lvincentee ok I'll check it out! Sounds pretty interesting :)

[@lvincentee]

@@AngstyRat oh great! I’d love to hear what your thoughts are

[@dorafatima10]

My Fev is definitely besties getting in love!!! Especially if it's done correctly. Cause they can't be just best friends outta no where. They gotta SHOW it to us,on how besties they are with great conversations and showing their emotions with each other.cause nobody is perfect. And NOT with "HeY iM YoUr BeSt FrIEnD" "OH Yeah! YoU ArE" 😩😩

[@katalinilles5497]

If you want to read a strong friendship, do continue with the Fitz trilogies in the Realm of the Elderlings series. The relationship between Fitz and the Fool is so beatiful and deep that I became obsessed with them. And the Liveship Traders trilogy (which is between the Farseer trilogy and the Tawny Man trilogy) is a story of a family with three generation of women. And it has pirates and living ships.

[@solithedreamer]

gosh i love desert and jungle settings, my favorites. Also cities in the sky/clouds!

[@roeybason6659]

I think my buzzword is betrayal. Like if the premise of a book is everything was fine until someone betrayed them, I’m probably gonna read it.

[@WeShouldStabCaesar]

The angst of it all makes everything 100% better

[@Chouette143]

I also kind of love it when you don’t see it coming. Not like stupid like Hans but well done and not predictable.

[@ava2194]

THANK YOU so very much. I'm in the very very very beginning stages of writing a book/potentially series and I'm on a "quest" to research tropes and settings, and this video has been exceptionally helpful. :3

[@katieosullivan5749]

I’ve just come home after doing my French oral LC (Irish end of secondary school exam) and am watching this video to nestle in the euphoria of it being over. I could think of no better treat 🥰

[@RitA-wu4ik]

Heyy, mine is tomorrow 😟

[@darrellhon2868]

I admit I watched this while checking if my manuscript has any of your trope preferences. It hit a few, and that made me feel good.

[@CharlieThunder24]

that moment you realize your fantasy novel already has at least half of Merphy's favorite tropes in it.

[@giuliakenway6500]

I wasn't aware of it until I heard you describe it, but for some reason I love "crossing the desert" storylines too 😅

[@litlbucky]

The desert trope surprised me

[@purusingh6085]

Had she read dark tower series? I am new to her channel.

[@litlbucky]

I know she has read some Stephen King, but not sure on DT series?

[@myvalley109]

I just want you to know that your Gentleman Bastards pitch worked for me. I read all three books and LOVED THEM. Probably one my favorite fantasy series

[@jaimeerindy4573]

Another trope I'm such a sucker for is "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong", does not matter the scale or setting. Just love it

[@futtynucker5278]

Murphy's Law is best law. And worst law.

[@jchinckley]

This is the masterstroke of any good novel and the backbone of bestseller status...

[@jaimeerindy4573]

@@jchinckley Truly! And yet I don't see it enough!

[@grkpektis]

My favorites- a character that is so powerful that he doesn’t even care about anything going on in the main story he’s just annoyed he has to deal with people beneath him/ her. They dont have to be a villain like Death from Supernatural or even Q from Star Trek. They have their own problems to deal with which we can’t even comprehend When the humans are scarier/ more evil than the monsters

[@thefriesofLockeLamora]

Some of my favourite tropes are having to seek knowledge (like going on a quest to find a specific library or oracle) or when enemies have to come together fight a bigger foe

[@skohp1]

You would love Dark (Netflix show) I know it’s not a book but it’s kind of got friends turned lovers, and focuses on stuck in a time loop in small town that you can’t leave. It’s a super fun sci fi show and does some really interesting stuff with the tropes

[@PokeLSouma]

It's too bad that you're not a TV person because "Dark" is 100% your setting and also a fantastic show in general. Propably the single best execution of the small town setting I've ever seen and some other stuff you like as well, altho that would go into spoiler territory.

[@mariaajith9225]

omg fr please check out dark, merph its perfect for you!!

[@kajielin4354]

I've been waiting for this! :D About rude inanimate objects: Excalibur in soul eater! Best sword, could work with everyone, but no one is able to put up with his personality.

[@Akigirl2004]

Fool! XD Excalibur is amazingly obnoxious as are his mandatory story times

[@lisa1703]

I love Power Dynamics, when one party could theoretically completely destroy the other one, but they are just so chilled and nice that they won't 😂 The trust that can be developed in these kind of situations always warms my heart (and just Trust in general is amazing to read about)

[@johannageisel5390]

I wish there was a sequel to Warbreaker! Susebron could embody this very well.

[@bridgetfern9218]

So like almost all of the tropes you like are in my book I’ve been creating for ten years. You just made me have a confidence boost thank you 😊

[@pm-wr5xv]

Is this video: a) about Merphy's favorite tropes; or b) a description of the Lies of Locke Lamora

[@alexheed5654]

One setting trope I absolutely love is when the setting is a different planet, and you're constantly reminded of it. Like, maybe the planet has a red sun, or a purple moon. Maybe the planet has rings. If you look up at the sky, and you can tell it's not Earth, I'm on board.

[@thefairylibrarian3282]

There is a middle-grade series that I adore. It would translate as "The little Odessa" by Peter Van Olmen. It's such a shame that it is not (yet) translated into English because after this video I think you would love it.

[@marisophi]

ohh net opgezocht, klinkt goed!

[@larrackell]

Friends to lovers is one of my very favorite tropes. I'm SUCH a sucker for it.

[@kunynuk8375]

You need to watch “hunter x hunter”(2011) you’ll find the founded family troupe in a very unexpected place and you’ll cry. Also it’s a classic and you should watch it anyway.

[@xfairfaeriex]

I love the amazing friendship between Gon and Killua!

[@lmg492]

Still sad about the ending tho...

[@kunynuk8375]

@@xfairfaeriex and I just remembered that hxh is a perfect example for a boy leaving the small village troupe.

[@islasullivan3463]

Another anime she would probably like is Black Clover..

[@kunynuk8375]

@@islasullivan3463 the manga would be a much stronger recommendation in this case. though, some of the fight scenes are just godly, not gonna lie.

[@blessyie643]

Brute with gentle hearts are just Ahh!! Adorable and fun to read makes every reader wanna enter the book and hug them.

[@LostDigit]

I'm not sure if you've covered this before, but based on almost all of the tropes you've listed here, the Cradle series from Will Wight sounds like it would be up your alley.

[@celinefuchs4095]

Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa, probably my favorite book so far this year, has an episode with a small town, creepy vibe trope. It was amazing. I also love big buff characters with a soft heart. Another character trope that I absolutely love is the dark, smug, cynical, sometimes brutal character that has a heart and things they care deeply about.

[@amenahsiddiqui2999]

If you love the mentor and found family trope, I think you would love the Ranger's Apprentice series! It's one of my absolute favorite series! There's even a book in the series with a desert and ocean setting ;) Also, I absolutely adore strong platonic friendships, one of my most favorite things to read, watch and I just love it so much!

[@cognus3372]

Halt is the coolest man. One of the only YA series I've ever enjoyed.

[@0StarGirl5000]

I’m a sucker for the immortal drifter trope. I just find the psychological exploration of a character who doesn’t age fascinating. I also just like the regular drifter a lot too. Roland from Dark Tower is a favorite of mine. And I wish there had been more of Vasher in Warbreaker. The Josey Wales books by Forest Carter are also some of my favorites just for this character trope.

[@johannageisel5390]

I wish there was a sequel to Warbreaker! But I'm more interested in Susebron and Siri and how they will fare together in the political upheavals that are to come.

[@comeon9873]

Fantasy with martial arts is THE THING for me. I will eat that up and no one can stop me

[@jchinckley]

You should read a couple things if you haven't already, but they're webtoon/manga things. Gosu is on the Webtoons app and the other one actually has more of the tropes mentioned in other comments--that one is called Peerless Dad and both are well done. Both are Fantasy based martial arts stories by Korean authors/artists.

[@comeon9873]

@@jchinckley Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll definitely have to check those out

[@elfxteume]

I also like the character types of Sherlock 💖 Other tropes I love are magical portals, talking animals, robots who are like humans, and travelling adventures.

[@kindlelight]

Great quote for a shirt: "I don't make sense, and I'm sorry about that." XD

[@nohelanikh6788]

Crossing the desert is one of my faves!!! I’ve never heard anyone else talk about it

[@hadasivry]

Merphy you simply MUST read Britt Marie Was Here. It a Backman book about a strange old woman that arrives in a small town and has to get used to life there. It has really strong small town vibes and I know how much you love Backman so you are sure to love it

[@charleschan2920]

This is one of my favourite videos of yours. You articulated so clearly the troupes and helped me sensemake the stories I've read. Same here, I loved Gandalf or Kelsier archetypes. But not too much "sacrifices" in platonic relationship characters though 😅

[@MrSunglasses]

I think you’d really like A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara because it’s about found family and adoption, great friendships and it’s a hit in the feels

[@miaa7365]

I haven't watched the video yet but I just wanna say that your determination blows my mind every time! You're so consistent with posting and that's just something I admire, keep it up! ❤

[@mackenzies.g.9862]

That sweater is so cute! (I'm sorry, that's what I chose to focus on this video)

[@orpheos9]

I like how you acknowledge that you will like the mentor trope no matter what, even if it plays out similarly everytime. I think people can often get too wrapped up in hating anything that is predictable.

[@DryBooks]

"Something about the despair" she says Lol this was perfect

[@christophermarks3418]

Merphy, thanks for the video! I would highly recommend Patrick O’Brian’s Master & Commander (Aubrey & Maturin) series. It has probably the best friendship in literature, and is highlighted by amazing battles at sea, fantastic dialogue, and really memorable characters throughout.

[@eb9496]

I absolutely LOVE when a story is set at a boarding school! It doesn't even have to be a magic one, just a boarding school in general. Plus, I think it's not very hard to execute it well, as long as it doesn't feel like a regular school it's fine.

[@princesselo2009]

If you like teen spies, I recommend The Gallagher Girls books ;)

[@ashlynhale3369]

I love so many of your favorites too! (Found family, literally all your favorite character tropes, and seaside/beach towns haha)😊 I also love magical school settings!

[@pierrejohnson6891]

Anything to do with the ocean? I can't help but think of Life of Pi, what an epic survival story

[@AlexandreGomes-fc2qw]

I love the little kid in the little town with a lot of drama and I am so devastated when they leave....( Magician)

[@YukikoAimiyo]

So I actually love really good characters, but in the way where it can almost be seen as a fault. Everyone is begging them, "just kill him, he's evil" but they refuse to because killing is alway wrong. Aang from Avatar and Steven from Steven Universe are some examples. I eat that shit up.

[@corhydrae3238]

Completely agree. Also, it's nice to see modern cartoons create male rolemodels that show compassion for their enemies and seek nonviolent solutions. That stuff's important to teach young boys. Though I think this trope needs to reeeally challenge those characters morals to make it interesting. I want to see a character like that being challenged with an enemy that they cannot sway or redeem and that can't be dealt with peacefully. Force them to kill, show me the aftermath and their resulting inner turmoil and I'll probably eat that shit up.

[@anonymouswitness3835]

I love really strong black and white morality, too, and principles that are never compromised. I love a good person with their back to the wall, sure they are going to die/lose but never relenting; that's like one of my favorite things ever in anything. Syme's swordfight with the Marquis in The Man Who Was Thursday, the final battles in The Lord of the Rings, some fanmade Warhammer content surrounding the Guard, etc.

[@antonia.d.m]

The Autumnal is a great newer comic series that fully matches the “creepy small town with secrets, where no one leaves” setting you described. I think there are only 4 issues out right now, but it has everything you mentioned! Plus, it’s beautifully illustrated.