History Main / Consistency

Often, a feature in a work is consistent at one level and not at another; for example, maybe [[OurVampiresAreDifferent your vampires]] [[Literature/{{Twilight}} glitter in sunlight]], which is not genre consistent with other works featuring vampires, but as long as they always do that, it ''is'' internally consistent. Similarly, if a work sacrifices a lot of External Consistency but is heavy on Internal Consistency, you get MagicAIsMagicA.

* DanBrowned: Insisting you've done the research when it's obvious you didn't.

* NecessaryWeasel: When a {{trope}} is considered necessary in order for the genre to work.

Consistency aids WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief, while violations of consistency may be jolting and unexpected, which can benefit both humor and drama. The viewer would be quite surprised to learn that in your universe, [[RichardNixonTheUsedCarSalesman Hitler was a circus performer]], [[VideoGame/{{Loom}} dragons are scared of fire]], and that the married couple no longer recognize each other in Act III. Generally, if a work is inconsistent, the viewer expects there to be a good reason for it. On the other hand, sometimes violations of consistency go unnoticed even if they're quite obvious, or may even be ''expected''; e.g. TheCoconutEffect, by definition, sacrifices some External Consistency for Genre Consistency. Conversely, if a work forgoes Genre Consistency in favor of External Consistency, then you have a SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome.

Consistency aids WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief, while violations of consistency may be jolting and unexpected, which can benefit both humor and drama. The viewer would be quite surprised to learn that in your universe, [[RichardNixonTheUsedCarSalesman Hitler was a circus performer]], [[VideoGame/{{Loom}} dragons are scared of fire]], and that the married couple no longer recognize each other in Act III. Generally, if a work is inconsistent, the viewer expects there to be a good reason for it. On the other hand, sometimes violations of consistency go unnoticed even if they're quite obvious, or may even be ''expected''; e.g. TheCoconutEffect, by definition, sacrifices some External Consistency for Genre Consistency. As opposed to TheCoconutEffect, if a work forgoes Genre Consistency in favor of External Consistency, then you have a SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome.

* CriticalResearchFailure: It is obvious that the creators did not do their research properly because the information the work gives is blatantly wrong.

Consistency aids WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief, while violations of consistency may be jolting and unexpected, which can benefit both humor and drama. The viewer would be quite surprised to learn that in your universe, [[RichardNixonTheUsedCarSalesman Hitler was a circus performer]], [[VideoGame/{{Loom}} dragons are scared of fire]], and that the married couple no longer recognize each other in Act III. Generally, if a work is inconsistent, the viewer expects there to be a good reason for it. On the other hand, sometimes violations of consistency go unnoticed even if they're quite obvious, or may even be ''expected''; e.g. TheCoconutEffect, by definition, sacrifices some External Consistency for Genre Consistency.

Often, a feature in a work is consistent at one level and not at another; for example, maybe [[OurVampiresAreDifferent your vampires]] [[Literature/{{Twilight}} glitter in sunlight]], which is not genre consistent with other works featuring vampires, but as long as they always do that, it ''is'' internally consistent. As opposed to TheCoconutEffect, if a work forgoes Genre Consistency in favor of External Consistency, then you have a SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome.

* MoralDissonance: An action is okay if the good guys do it, but unacceptable if the bad guys do it.

Consistency aids WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief, while violations of consistency may be jolting and unexpected, which can benefit both humor and drama. The viewer would be quite surprised to learn that in your universe, [[RichardNixonTheUsedCarSalesman Hitler was a circus performer]], [[VideoGame/{{Loom}} dragons are scared of fire]], and that the married couple no longer recognize each other in Act III. Generally, if a work is inconsistent, the viewer expects there to be a good reason for it. On the other hand, sometimes violations of consistency go unnoticed even if they're quite obvious, or may even be ''expected''; e.g. TheCoconutEffect violates External Consistency.

Often, a feature in a work is consistent at one level and not at another; for example, maybe [[OurVampiresAreDifferent your vampires]] [[Literature/{{Twilight}} glitter in sunlight]], which is not genre consistent with other works featuring vampires, but as long as they always do that, it ''is'' internally consistent. If a work forgoes External Consistency in favor of Genre Consistency, you have TheCoconutEffect. If conversely a work forgoes Genre Consistency in favor of External Consistency, then you have a SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome.

* NotSoCrazyAnymore: A work makes an idea out to be ridiculous, only for it to be validated [[TechnologyMarchesOn years down]] [[SocietyMarchesOn the line]].

* SeriesContinuityError: The series that one points makes a very noticeable continuity error that is too glaring to overlook or excuse.

* ShockingSwerve

* NotSoCrazyAnymore
* RealismInducedHorror
* UnexpectedlyRealisticGameplay

Often, a feature in a work is consistent at one level and not at another; for example, maybe [[OurVampiresAreDifferent your vampires]] [[Literature/{{Twilight}} glitter in sunlight]], which is not genre consistent with other works featuring vampires, but as long as they always do that, it ''is'' internally consistent. If a work forgoes External Consistency in favor of Genre Consistency, you have TheCoconutEffect. If conversely a work forgoes Genre Consistency in favor of External Consistency, then you have a SurprisingRealisticOutcome.

Often, a feature in a work is consistent at one level and not at another; for example, maybe [[OurVampiresAreDifferent your vampires]] [[Literature/{{Twilight}} glitter in sunlight]], which is not genre consistent with other works featuring vampires, but as long as they always do that, it ''is'' internally consistent. If a work forgoes External Consistency in favor of Genre Consistency, you have TheCoconutEffect. If conversely a work forgoes Genre Consistency in favor of External Consistency, then you have RealityEnsues.

* RealityEnsues: The realistic consequences and outcomes of certain tropes are demonstrated rather than having the same results as in any other work of fiction.

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"Too much like other works, nothing new or original." "Exploring and pushing the genre until its limits."

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