Common TV and Movie Clichés I Wish Would Disappear

While popular media brings joy and entertainment to many of us, some recurring tropes and clichés can become quite tiresome. In this article, we'll examine three examples of clichés that have outlived their usefulness and are ripe for the dustbin of television and film history. These cliche-filled tropes not only detract from enjoyable storytelling but also perpetuate stereotypes and reinforce outdated notions that are no longer productive.

Cliché: The “Whack! Bam! Biff!” or Batman Tintype

It's a minor annoyance, but one that grates on my nerves every time the media mentions anything related to comics or comic-inspired stories. You see, it's become a ubiquitous trope to use the iconic sound effects from the 1966 Batman TV show—“Whack! Bam! Biff!”—to add excitement or drama to any scene, no matter the context. This rehashed sound effect is over 55 years old and has long ceased to be fresh or relevant. What's worse is that it can diminish the quality of new stories by bringing to mind outdated and uncreative writing techniques. Let's move on from this tired trope and start crafting narratives that are more fitting for the present day.

Cliché: The Rescue Scene

Until recently, there was a prevalent stereotype in female-led action movies where the main female character would inevitably fall in a critical moment so that a man could help her back on her feet, thus emphasizing his supposed superiority. This is an insidious and harmful trope that has permeated countless films and TV shows. As viewers, we can use our voices and influence to demand better representation. We can suggest to production studios the necessity of retroactively editing out all these scenes unless the male character also falls, emphasizing a more balanced partnership and camaraderie. This is not only a matter of equality but also of portraying realistic and compelling dynamics between characters.

Cliché: The Quiet Before the Storm

Another cliché that has no place in modern storytelling is the scene where a character, often in the middle of battle, finds a mortally wounded friend or loved one and has a quiet, heartfelt goodbye. While these moments can be emotionally poignant, they have been overused to the point of becoming unconvincing and redundant. Instead, we could see more scenes that evoke a different kind of tension, such as someone noticing, "It's too quiet," just before an attack. This would reflect a more nuanced and realistic portrayal of situations where heightened alertness is the norm. It also challenges the narrative to be more dynamic and less predictable.

Cliché: The MacGuffin

The MacGuffin, a plot device that is usually a goal or object that drives the plot but is rarely addressed or explained in detail, has become a staple in many movies and series. The idea that the hero must stop a destructive device or prevent a disaster from affecting a city, country, or even the world has become a tiresome trope. This reliance on a single, exaggerated threat undermines the creative potential of storytelling. We need to see more nuanced and impactful reasons for characters to go through their journeys, rather than feeling the weight of an all-encompassing, issue-for-instance scenario. A proper explanation and moral or ethical focus can make a story more compelling and resonant with the audience.

By eliminating these clichés, we can help create a richer, more diverse, and more imaginative world for storytelling. Each of these tropes, while initially charming and exciting, has worn thin over time and detracts from the quality of the narrative. Let's work towards a future where such clichés are a relic of the past and where filmmakers and writers can find new and innovative ways to tell compelling stories.