Never Gets Old: 5 TV Tropes Viewers Love Even After Zillionth Appearance

Whether we like it or not, television is made up of tropes and clichés that press our emotional buttons and can make or break a plot. Some are so overused that they become dull and predictable. But others cut deep into our psychology and remain irresistible even after numerous uses.

Here are five common TV plot arcs that make us react positively every time, no matter how many times we see them.

Overly Realistic Detectives

The idea of the neat and always organized detective in crime dramas has been replaced by the protagonist who is a traumatized mess, eats garbage, and hates themselves. And viewers seem to be sold on such characters.

Sherlock Holmes was probably the first to have traits like this. But one of the best examples of this trope is Gary Oldman's Jackson Lamb from Slow Horses. He is unshowered, slightly disgusting, and totally miserable. And we love it.

So Serious It's Funny

Another amazing character type that takes any sitcom or comedy to a new level is the one who is so serious that it provides countless sight gags and jokes.

Andre Braugher's Raymond Holt on Brooklyn Nine-Nine is one of the best to represent this trope. Holt is so robotic and straightforward that his lines always crack the audience up. Other good examples are Nick Offerman's Ron Swanson from Parks and Rec and Brett Goldstein's Roy Kent from Ted Lasso.

Dark Horse

Let's face it, we'll never get tired of the story of an underrated loser who turns out to be a badass. It is a common trope in police procedurals like The Last Detective, where a cop is disrespected by his bosses and colleagues, but turns out to be the best when it really counts.

It is also used in other genres. The weird little alien turns out to be Yoda. The frail old man with the walking stick is Gandalf. Galahad from Kingsman teaches hooligans the 'manners maketh man' lesson. Perfect every time.

From Baddie to Sweetheart

One of the best character developments a show can feature is an arc that starts with the audience hating someone and ends with the public love and support. As the show progresses, we see the character's backstory and redemption journey that makes us fall for them.

Think Prince Zuko from Avatar, Howard Hamlin from Better Call Saul, Jaime Lannister from Game of Thrones, Cousin Richie from The Bear, or Steve Harrington from Stranger Things.

Bad Actors

It is always hilarious to see actors we know are good (after all, we are watching a show in which they are starring) playing bad actors, forcing themselves to make amateur mistakes like mouthing other actors' lines, freezing in front of the camera, or acting unnaturally.

Jennifer Lawrence does this really well in the Hunger Games movies. When they try to get Katniss to film some propaganda clips, she sounds completely wooden and forced.