History Main / BreakingOldTrends

* Related to thw above, ''Anime/YattermanNight'' is the first direct sequel to a previous ''Time Bokan'' series, as well as the first to have a TerribleTrio be a heroic PowerTrio. This is also the first series to not have a trio serve as recurring villains, instead opting for a singular entity and his robot army.

* Most ''Anime/TimeBokan'' series share the same kind of situations, but the fifth series, Yattodetaman, changed around multiple things:
** First, for the first time the main character actually transforms into the titular hero becoming stronger and braver than usual, rather than just donning different clothes and a mask like the other Time Bokan main characters did.
** Also, it's the first time there is a single hero: while there's a female main character, she doesn't transform when fighting the bad guys.
** Speaking about the bad guys, the two male members of the TerribleTrio look completely different than the usual: Julie haves a smaller nose, lacks a moustache and stands more upright compared to Boyakki and all its expies, while Alain, instead of being a short hunch with broad shoulders with a five o' clock shade like Tonzula and his derivates, it's a tall, fat guy with a prominent beard.
** As a last difference, instead of a bunch of different Funny Animal mechas, Yattodetaman haves a single HumongousMecha. This change was kept around in the subsequent Ippatsuman, only to come back with the old style in Itadakiman.

* In ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'', [[spoiler:Zemo becomes the first main villain of a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie since Loki from the ''Thor'' movies to not be killed off at the end of the film]].

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* The {{Anime/Pokemon}} anime, for all its tendencies to patterns, if not above breaking them from time to time.

[[folder:Film]]
* In ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'', [[spoiler:Zemo becomes the first main villain of a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie since Loki from the ''Thor'' movies to not be killed off at the end of the film]].
* ''WesternAnimation/Cars3'': Unlike the first two, this exchange is absent.
-->'''Old character''': If there's anything you need, just let me know.
-->'''Main character''': I sure appreciate that. Thank you. ({{Beat}}) Actually, there is one thing... ({{Gilligan Cut}}s to the request, usually a BrickJoke from earlier, being fulfilled)

--->'''Lightning:''' You know who you're talking to, this is Lightning [=McQueen=]. I can handle anything. (GilliganCut to the random request he's asked to do)

[[folder:Let's Play]]
* ''LetsPlay/{{Chorocojo}}'' used the male trainer during his ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2'' LP, as opposed to the female trainer he was using in his previous LP's. However, by this point he was tired of doing female characters, viciously lampshading it the last two times beforehand, but during Pokestar Studios filming he used the female trainer.
* The ''LetsPlay/HoboBros''' "Hobo Theater" videos originally had Kevin read a list of words relating to the video's theme, with Luke having to work each word into the story. However, this eventually led to Kevin saying phrases, or even full sentences, instead of single words, and they seem to have abandoned the idea of using single words despite doing it for many videos.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

'''Main character''': I sure appreciate that. Thank you. ({{Beat}}) Actually, there is one thing... ({{Gilligan Cut}}s to the request, usually a BrickJoke from earlier, being fulfilled)

-->'''Main character''': I sure appreciate that. Thank you. ({{Beat}}) Actually, there is one thing... ({{Gilligan Cut}}s to the request, usually a BrickJoke from earlier, being fulfilled)

-->'''Lightning:''' You know who you're talking to, this is Lightning McQueen. I can handle anything. (GilliganCut to the random request he's asked to do)

*** First generation where Ash doesn't catch the Grass-type starter.

*** First region where Ash doesn't cross-dress.

*** First region where Ash doesn't catch the Grass-type starter.

** In both Kanto and Johto, Ash caught the three regional starters. Starting with the Advance Saga, the Starters were divided between him and his companions. Though he did end up catching all three starter Pokémon again in Unova.

*** First evolution of a Water-type starter, as well as a Water-type Pokémon finally evolving since ever since the day way back in Kanto when Krabby evolved.

** In both Kanto and Johto, Ash caught the three regional starters. Starting with the Advance Saga, the Starters were divided between him and his companions.
** Similarly Talonflame did not learn Flamethrower like all the rest of his Fire-types.

** In Kalos, Ash did not capture a Grass-type Starter, while his Water-type evolved for the first time since the [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness Indigo League]]

** In Alola, Ash did not capture the ComMon Regional Bird. Similarly Lillie is the first main character in a anime series who isn't either original, or is a main series playable character or based on a gym leader/trial captain.

* ''Anime/YesPrettyCure5'' switched from the original two-girl team of the previous '''Pretty Cure'' seasons to a a Sentai-styled [[FiveManBand Five Girl Band]], along with each member being capable of an FinishingMove, rather than requiring both [[MagicalGirlWarrior Cures]] to be together to finish off the MonsterOfTheWeek.

* ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' changed the formula from the first six generations. Gym Battles were replaced with the Island Challenge Trials and Grand Trials. In addition, Hidden Machines have been replaced with the Ride Pager, and the villain team is actually a surprise.
* In ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddysSisterLocation'', the player has to do tasks to progress with the nights, and not survive until 6 A.M. [[spoiler:At least, not until Night 5's fake ending...]] In addition, Bonnie is only Funtime Freddy's handpuppet, Chica is nowhere to be found, and the animatronics are almost entirely brand new.

Please only post examples of third installments or seasons or further. In part two the formula isn't usually established.

[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''LetsPlay/{{Chorocojo}}'' used the male trainer during his ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2'' LP, as opposed to the female trainer he was using in his previous LP's. However, by this point he was tired of doing female characters, viciously lampshading it the last two times beforehand, but during Pokestar Studios filming he used the female trainer.
* The ''LetsPlay/HoboBros''' "Hobo Theater" videos originally had Kevin read a list of words relating to the video's theme, with Luke having to work each word into the story. However, this eventually led to Kevin saying phrases, or even full sentences, instead of single words, and they seem to have abandoned the idea of using single words despite doing it for many videos.
[[/folder]]

* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedUnityTheAssassins'' has the first player character in the main console series not to be an ancestor of Desmond Miles. He is also the first since Altair to have only one Hidden Blade, and isn't a WalkingArmory.

Compare {{Retool}} and GenreShift.

**First, for the first time the main character actually transforms into the titular hero becoming stronger and braver than usual, rather than just donning different clothes and a mask like the other Time Bokan main characters did.
**Also, it's the first time there is a single hero: while there's a female main character, she doesn't transform when fighting the bad guys.
**Speaking about the bad guys, the two male members of the TerribleTrio look completely different than the usual: Julie haves a smaller nose, lacks a moustache and stands more upright compared to Boyakki and all its expies, while Alain, instead of being a short hunch with broad shoulders with a five o' clock shade like Tonzula and his derivates, it's a tall, fat guy with a prominent beard.
**As a last difference, instead of a bunch of different Funny Animal mechas, Yattodetaman haves a single HumongousMecha. This change was kept around in the subsequent Ippatsuman, only to come back with the old style in Itadakiman.

[[folder:Let's Play]]
* ''LetsPlay/{{Chorocojo}}'' used the male trainer during his ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2'' LP, as opposed to the female trainer he was using in his previous LP's. However, by this point he was tired of doing female characters, viciously lampshading it the last two times beforehand, but during Pokestar Studios filming he used the female trainer.

[[folder:Series]]
* ''BritainsGotTalent'': 2016 was the first year that David [[spoiler: used his golden buzzer on an performance where none of the judges buzzed the act.]]
* ''AmericanHorrorStoryHotel'':
** This is the very first season without both Creator/JessicaLange and Frances Conroy, the latter of which could not return due to a prior commitment.
** [[spoiler: This is the first season where Creator/SarahPaulson's character is killed. She previously survived all four seasons. Though, this is also downplayed. Paulson plays two characters this season. One was killed before the series started, and one survives. So, she's still never been killed ''during'' the series.]]
** Despite the casting of Lady Gaga, there's no musical number in this season.
* ''BurnNotice'' spent six seasons with a familiar pattern; Michael and company face an overriding arc for the season which they make incremental progress on during each episode while most of the episode is spent dealing with a VillainOfTheWeek criminal or whatever. The final season dumped this pattern, became much DarkerAndEdgier, and focused almost entirely on a single long arc of Michael working for the CIA. There were some occasional side issues to deal with, but they were generally quite brief and quickly resolved.
[[/folder]]

The series has went quite far... maybe too far. Fans are bored, and it attracted criticisms of Main/ItsTheSameSoItSucks. What can the creators do?

Why, change the series formula, by doing a change that is large, but the show is still the same thing. [[Main/TropesAreTools Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.]]

**Speaking about the bad guys, the two male members of the Main/TerribleTrio look completely different than the usual: Julie haves a smaller nose, lacks a moustache and stands more upright compared to Boyakki and all its expies, while Alain, instead of being a short hunch with broad shoulders with a five o' clock shade like Tonzula and his derivates, it's a tall, fat guy with a prominent beard.
**As a last difference, instead of a bunch of different Funny Animal mechas, Yattodetaman haves a single Main/HumongousMecha. This change was kept around in the subsequent Ippatsuman, only to come back with the old style in Itadakiman.

* ''Series/BurnNotice'' spent six seasons with a familiar pattern; Michael and company face an overriding arc for the season which they make incremental progress on during each episode while most of the episode is spent dealing with a Main/VillainOfTheWeek criminal or whatever. The final season dumped this pattern, became much Main/DarkerAndEdgier, and focused almost entirely on a single long arc of Michael working for the CIA. There were some occasional side issues to deal with, but they were generally quite brief and quickly resolved.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' is a lot more open world than the other Zelda games and features Main/RPGElements, such as equippable weapons and armor as well as cookable food.
* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedUnityTheAssassins'' has the first player character in the main console series not to be an ancestor of Desmond Miles. He is also the first since Altair to have only one Hidden Blade, and isn't a Main/WalkingArmory.

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' would famously kill off Kenny Main/OnceAnEpisode for the first four seasons or so. Then Kenny got Main/KilledOffForReal for one season before reviving him. Since then, Kenny has only been killed occasionally, usually with a huge lampshade hung on it.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': Starting in Season 4, much of the series formula was changed drastically, such as the Mane Six giving up the Elements of Harmony, and of the Main/{{Aesop}} changing from the "Dear Princess Celestia" format to a diary format, which was then abandoned by Season 5.

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Examples:

[[folder:PlayingWith]]
* '''Straight:''' Alice And Bob reaches part 5, and they do a very noticable change to the series formula.
* '''Exeggarated:''' Alice And Bob reaches part 50, and they do a change that is so big it basically becomes a new show altogether.
* '''Downplayed:''' Alice And Bob does a small change in part 3, but it's still affects the series noticably.
* '''Justified:''' Alice And Bob has a trend change because the characters themselves are tired of the same thing.
* '''Subverted:''' The executives say that there will be a big formula break in part 5, but it just doesn't happen.
* '''Double Subverted:''' It actually happens in part 6.
* '''Zigzagged:''' But then it changes back to normal in part 7.
* '''Averted:''' The series keeps going with no changes at all.
* '''Enforced:''' The executives change formulas, so the series stops being stale.
* '''Lampshaded:''' "Wait, I thought this would happen again... why not?"
* '''Discussed''': "It's our fifth adventure! It's obvious things will be different!"
* '''Defied''': The creators say the series will never change.
* '''Deconstructed:''' The change leads to Main/TheyChangedItSoItSucks, and another sequel never comes out.
* '''Reconstructed:''' 10 years later, it gets Main/VindicatedByHistory, and the series continues.
[[/folder]]

Now that Main/BrokenStreak has been changed to Main/BrokenWinLossStreak, and the definition was changed with all misuse removed, I think we need a trope for times when series traditions suddenly change. Expect Administrivia/RollingUpdates.

Description:

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Possible alternate names: Breaking Old Formulas, Breaking Old Traditions, Breaking Old Series Traditions