Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Added Body Double
Added DiffLines:
* In ''Film/BodyDouble'', Jake Scully comes home early to the apartment he lives in with his girlfriend. He walks in to see his girlfriend in bed with another man. Since she owns the apartment, Jake is now left without a place to stay, leading to his acceptance of a house-sitting offer at a luxury home in the Hollywood hills.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1,2 (click to see context) from:
So, you're writing a story and you need your character to be both immediately sympathetic to the audience and motivated to suddenly change their life in a dramatic way: How about you have them walk in on their partner in the middle of having sex with someone else? Witnessing this infidelity shows the protagonist as down on their luck and implies that their personal life was unhappy and/or unfulfilling, paving the way for the drastic change that comprises the work's gimmick. It also establishes them as single, just in time for the introduction of the work's LoveInterest.
to:
So, you're writing a story and you need your character to be both immediately sympathetic to the audience and motivated to suddenly change their life in a dramatic way: way. How about you have them [[BedroomAdulteryScene walk in on their partner in the middle of having sex with someone else? else]]? Witnessing this infidelity shows the protagonist as down on their luck and implies that their personal life was unhappy and/or unfulfilling, paving the way for the drastic change that comprises the work's gimmick. It also establishes them as single, just in time for the introduction of the work's LoveInterest.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 14,15 (click to see context) from:
* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable'' begins with the revelation that its protagonist, Josuke Higashikata, is the product of an affair between [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureBattleTendency Joseph Joestar]] and a Japanese woman back in 1983. After his news comes to light in 1999, he's met by his 28-year-old nephew [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Jotaro Kujo]], who travels to Morioh to explain the situation to him, only for them to get caught up in the sudden rise in Stand-users across town.
to:
* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable'' begins with the revelation that its protagonist, Josuke Higashikata, is the product of an affair between [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureBattleTendency Joseph Joestar]] and a Japanese woman back in 1983. After his this news comes to light in 1999, he's met by his 28-year-old nephew [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Jotaro Kujo]], who travels to Morioh to explain the situation to him, only for them to get caught up in the sudden rise in Stand-users across town.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[folder:Anime/Manga]]
* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable'' begins with the revelation that its protagonist, Josuke Higashikata, is the product of an affair between [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureBattleTendency Joseph Joestar]] and a Japanese woman back in 1983. After his news comes to light in 1999, he's met by his 28-year-old nephew [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Jotaro Kujo]], who travels to Morioh to explain the situation to him, only for them to get caught up in the sudden rise in Stand-users across town.
[[/folder]]
* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable'' begins with the revelation that its protagonist, Josuke Higashikata, is the product of an affair between [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureBattleTendency Joseph Joestar]] and a Japanese woman back in 1983. After his news comes to light in 1999, he's met by his 28-year-old nephew [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Jotaro Kujo]], who travels to Morioh to explain the situation to him, only for them to get caught up in the sudden rise in Stand-users across town.
[[/folder]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
[[folder:Music]]
* In a roundabout way, ''Music/TheWall''. When Pink finds out during a collect call about his wife's infidelity, it spurs him to [[HeelRealization trace back all the steps that led to this point.]]
[[/folder]]
* In a roundabout way, ''Music/TheWall''. When Pink finds out during a collect call about his wife's infidelity, it spurs him to [[HeelRealization trace back all the steps that led to this point.]]
[[/folder]]
Changed line(s) 61 (click to see context) from:
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV''; one of Michael's first missions starts with him finding his wife with their tennis coach. However, it's mentioned multiple times that Michael cheated on her first and that they have an open relationship - he's okay with her sleeping around, but [[EverybodyHasStandards using their bed for it was too much]]. The mission then instead showcases Michael's HairTriggerTemper, [[ATragedyOfImpulsiveness impulsiveness]] and fondness for DisproportionateRetribution, and implies that his shitty life is caused by his barely-contained instability, narcissim and selfishness instead of his family.
to:
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV''; one of Michael's first missions starts with him finding his wife with their tennis coach. However, it's mentioned multiple times that Michael cheated on her first and that they have an open relationship - he's okay with her sleeping around, but [[EverybodyHasStandards using their bed for it was too much]]. The mission then instead showcases Michael's HairTriggerTemper, [[ATragedyOfImpulsiveness impulsiveness]] and fondness for DisproportionateRetribution, and implies that his shitty life is caused by his barely-contained instability, narcissim narcissism and selfishness instead of his family.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* The ''[[ComicBook/SilentHill Silent Hill comic book series "Sinner's Reward"]]'' gets kick-started this way, as the mob boss, Jack's employer and Jill's husband, was unaware of the love affair between Jack and Jill until they left together. Once he found out, he decided to have them brought back to him, leading to everyone eventually ending up in Silent Hill. This is still part of the Silent Hill franchise, however, so they're not portrayed as sympathetically as some other examples of this trope are -- for starters, Jack was employed as a ProfessionalKiller, and at least one other character isn't as willing to let bygones be bygones for them so easily.
Changed line(s) 48 (click to see context) from:
* ''Series/NewGirl'': The series begins with Jessica Day coming home early to surprise her boyfriend while wearing nothing but a trenchcoat (and a ribbon). Unfortunately for her, he's cheating on her with another girl and she winds up moving out, leading to the RoommateCom premise of the show.
to:
* ''Series/NewGirl'': The series begins with Jessica Day coming home early to surprise her boyfriend while wearing nothing but a trenchcoat trench-coat (and a ribbon). Unfortunately for her, he's cheating on her with another girl and she winds up moving out, leading to the RoommateCom premise of the show.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ''Series/{{Friends}}'': Joey's plotline in "The One With The Boobies" begins when he discovers the woman his father is speaking affectionately to on the phone isn't Joey's mother but [[TheMistress a mistress]]. After Joey pushes his father into ending the affair his mother shows up and reveals she knew the whole time and was ignoring it as the guilt made Mr. Tribbiani more attentive to her.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1,2 (click to see context) from:
So, you're writing a story and you need your character to be both immediately sympathetic to the audience and motivated to suddenly change their life in a dramatic way: How about you have them walk in on their partner in the middle of having sex with someone else? Witnessing this infidelity shows that the protagonist as down on their luck and implies that their personal life was unhappy and/or unfulfilling, paving the way for the drastic change that comprises the work's gimmick. It also establishes them as single, just in time for the introduction of the work's LoveInterest.
to:
So, you're writing a story and you need your character to be both immediately sympathetic to the audience and motivated to suddenly change their life in a dramatic way: How about you have them walk in on their partner in the middle of having sex with someone else? Witnessing this infidelity shows that the protagonist as down on their luck and implies that their personal life was unhappy and/or unfulfilling, paving the way for the drastic change that comprises the work's gimmick. It also establishes them as single, just in time for the introduction of the work's LoveInterest.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
* ''WesternAnimation/StrangeMagic'': At the beginning, [[TheHero Marianne]] is [[PrinceCharmingWannabe Roland]]'s happy, idealistic bride -- until she sees him cheating on her right before their wedding. This shapes her character as [[CynicismCatalyst she gives up on love]] and grows into a snarky, hot-tempered ActionGirl. And of course, she dumps Roland who doesn't actually care about Marianne but [[GoldDigger wants the perks that come with marrying her]], so he tries to manipulate her into taking him back. When that fails miserably, he manipulates [[DoggedNiceGuy Sunny]] to get the LovePotion, earning the ire of [[EvilOverlord the Bog King]] and setting in motion the whole movie's plot.
[[/folder]]
* ''WesternAnimation/StrangeMagic'': At the beginning, [[TheHero Marianne]] is [[PrinceCharmingWannabe Roland]]'s happy, idealistic bride -- until she sees him cheating on her right before their wedding. This shapes her character as [[CynicismCatalyst she gives up on love]] and grows into a snarky, hot-tempered ActionGirl. And of course, she dumps Roland who doesn't actually care about Marianne but [[GoldDigger wants the perks that come with marrying her]], so he tries to manipulate her into taking him back. When that fails miserably, he manipulates [[DoggedNiceGuy Sunny]] to get the LovePotion, earning the ire of [[EvilOverlord the Bog King]] and setting in motion the whole movie's plot.
[[/folder]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Cut trope.
Changed line(s) 5,6 (click to see context) from:
Subtrope of YourCheatingHeart. The protagonist might find out through a BedroomAdulteryScene. A similar trope is OutOfJobIntoThePlot.
to:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV''; one of Michael's first missions starts with him finding his wife with their tennis coach. However, it's mentioned multiple times that Michael cheated on her first and that they have an open relationship - he's okay with her sleeping around, but [[EverybodyHasStandards using their bed for it was too much]]. The mission then instead showcases Michael's HairTriggerTemper, [[ATragedyOfImpulsiveness impulsiveness]] and fondness for DisproportionateRetribution, and implies that his shitty life is caused by his barely-contained instability, narcissim and selfishness instead of his family.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[folder:Comic Books]]
* Subverted in ''ComicBook/{{Wanted}}''. Wesley Gibson is cuckolded by his girlfriend and best friend, but he's too much of a push-over to confront either of them about it. It takes a CallToAdventure from the Fraternity before he jumps into action, and Wesley's revenge on them (a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech for the former and off-screen dismemberment for the latter) is treated as an afterthought.
[[/folder]]
* Subverted in ''ComicBook/{{Wanted}}''. Wesley Gibson is cuckolded by his girlfriend and best friend, but he's too much of a push-over to confront either of them about it. It takes a CallToAdventure from the Fraternity before he jumps into action, and Wesley's revenge on them (a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech for the former and off-screen dismemberment for the latter) is treated as an afterthought.
[[/folder]]
Added DiffLines:
* ''Film/TheRoom'': Johnny has everything at the start of the film: wealth, a large group of friends, and his engagement to Lisa. If not for her infidelity with Johnny's friend Mark, there wouldn't be a plot to speak of.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[folder: Literature]]
* In ''Literature/TheBoneClocks'', teenage Holly Sykes catches her boyfriend in bed with her best friend at the beginning of the book. In response, she leaves town to wander aimlessly in the countryside. In her wanderings, she is exposed to a major conflict between the Horlogists and Anchorites (the conflict at the heart of the book's plot) and inadvertently makes a choice that proves crucial to the outcome of the conflict. She also meets several characters that become life-long friends and recurring characters throughout the rest of the book.
[[/folder]]
* In ''Literature/TheBoneClocks'', teenage Holly Sykes catches her boyfriend in bed with her best friend at the beginning of the book. In response, she leaves town to wander aimlessly in the countryside. In her wanderings, she is exposed to a major conflict between the Horlogists and Anchorites (the conflict at the heart of the book's plot) and inadvertently makes a choice that proves crucial to the outcome of the conflict. She also meets several characters that become life-long friends and recurring characters throughout the rest of the book.
[[/folder]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Added nuance to the Lucky Number Slevin example
Changed line(s) 25 (click to see context) from:
* ''Film/LuckyNumberSlevin'': Slevin is staying at Nick's place because he walked in on his wife cheating on him. This leads him to being mistaken for Nick and asked to WorkOffTheDebt that Nick had with a mob boss. [[spoiler:[[PlayingWithATrope Subverted]] by the fact that it turns out Slevin was lying about this story.]]
to:
* ''Film/LuckyNumberSlevin'': Slevin is staying at Nick's place because he walked in on his wife cheating on him. This leads him to being mistaken for Nick and asked to WorkOffTheDebt that Nick had with a mob boss. [[spoiler:[[PlayingWithATrope Subverted]] by the fact that it turns out Slevin was lying about this story.]]story, but still an in-universe example since it's part of the story Slevin tells to endear himself to Lindsey]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* Delia arrives home early in the fourth chapter of ''Fanfic/{{Mended}}'''s prequel ''Torn'' to find her new husband Will [[BedroomAdulteryScene in bed with his ex-girlfriend]]. Her boss Samuel finds Delia crying in the gardens and comforts her, which is when he realizes that he's attracted to her. When Delia arrives back home, she finds a note from Will saying he's left her for his exe. This situation allows Delia to enter a LoveTriangle with her co-worker Spencer and her boss Samuel.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 3,4 (click to see context) from:
Works that use this trope rarely focus on the ex or the causes of the affair (if they do, the ex is rarely portrayed as a SympatheticAdulterer, since the audience needs to root for the protagonist, and may become a villain with this trope as an EstablishingCharacterMoment), and generally do not try to salvage the previous relationship after it has served its purpose.
to:
Works that use this trope rarely focus on the ex or the causes of the affair (if they do, the ex is rarely portrayed as a SympatheticAdulterer, since the audience needs to root for the protagonist, and may become a villain with this trope as an EstablishingCharacterMoment), and generally do not try to salvage the previous relationship after it has served its purpose.
purpose. On the scale of GoodAdulteryBadAdultery, it usually falls on the bad side.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ''Film/LasVegasBloodbath'' is kicked off by a man coming home to find his wife in bed with another man, causing him to snap and proceed to go on a mass-murdering rampage, targeting mainly women in particular.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/CabinFeverPartingShot'' recreates the affair that takes between Paul and Marcy in Film/CabinFever. The difficulty with this being that Paul is hopelessly infatuated with his friendzone crush, Karen, at the start of the story. [[SexIsLiberation His journey of decadent, meaningless sex]] with [[ShamelessFanserviceGirl Karen's hot friend]], and [[IntimatePsychotherapy self-discovery]] begins when he inadvertently catches Karen having [[ButLiquorIsQuicker a drunken, impulsive fling]] with their friend, Bert.
[[/folder]]
* ''Fanfic/CabinFeverPartingShot'' recreates the affair that takes between Paul and Marcy in Film/CabinFever. The difficulty with this being that Paul is hopelessly infatuated with his friendzone crush, Karen, at the start of the story. [[SexIsLiberation His journey of decadent, meaningless sex]] with [[ShamelessFanserviceGirl Karen's hot friend]], and [[IntimatePsychotherapy self-discovery]] begins when he inadvertently catches Karen having [[ButLiquorIsQuicker a drunken, impulsive fling]] with their friend, Bert.
[[/folder]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 31 (click to see context) from:
* ''Series/{{Crashing}}'': Semi-autobiographical, this series stars Creator/PeteHolmes AsHimself. After walking in on his wife (played by Creator/LaurenLapkus) cheating on him, Pete decides to try his hand at Stand Up comedy and must ''[[PunBasedTitle crash]]'' on the couch of his comedian friends as he no longer has anywhere to live.
to:
* ''Series/{{Crashing}}'': ''Series/{{Crashing|US}}'': Semi-autobiographical, this series stars Creator/PeteHolmes AsHimself. After walking in on his wife (played by Creator/LaurenLapkus) cheating on him, Pete decides to try his hand at Stand Up comedy and must ''[[PunBasedTitle crash]]'' on the couch of his comedian friends as he no longer has anywhere to live.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* Vincent's affair with ''VideoGame/{{Catherine}}'' is what kicks off both his relationship issues and [[spoiler: pulls him into a deadly nightmare where he must climb a tower, or die by falling or occasionally his various fears personified as monsters.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* The SoapOpera ''Series/SunsetBeach'' kicks off with the heroine Meg pulling a RunawayBride on her fiance after finding out that he's been sleeping with her maid of honor. . .to flee to the titular town to meet the man that ''she's'' been having an online affair with.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* Already disillusioned with her [[HospitalParadiso glitzy plastic surgery practice]] in Los Angeles, Dr. Sydney Hansen decides to return to her family in ''Series/{{Providence}}'' after walking in on her boyfriend in the shower with another man.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 28 (click to see context) from:
* ''Series/TheOrville'': The series opens with [[TheKirk Ed]] walking in on his wife [[TheLancer Kelly]] having sex with an alien. The subsequent breakdown is why his career is so far off track for the rest of the pilot. [[spoiler:It is revealed at the end of the pilot that the entire series can be traced to this event, as it is Kelly's guilt that led her to pull the strings to get Ed his post as Captain of the Orville.]] Unlike a typical example of the trope, Kelly does, in a way, appear as a SympatheticAdulterer, and even Ed admits later that him working too hard and ignoring her probably played a part in it, although he doesn't absolve Kelly of the responsibility (and neither does she). He even thanks her at one point (albeit in a slightly sarcastic manner) for cheating on him, thus sparing them both a marriage that was clearly not working. A woman Ed hooks up with does ask him why his wife didn't simply file for divorce, if she wasn't happy with him.
to:
* ''Series/TheOrville'': The series opens with [[TheKirk Ed]] walking in on his wife [[TheLancer Kelly]] having sex with an alien. The subsequent breakdown is why his career is so far off track for the rest of the pilot. [[spoiler:It is revealed at the end of the pilot that the entire series can be traced to this event, as it is Kelly's guilt that led her to pull the strings to get Ed his post as Captain of the Orville.]] Unlike a typical example of the trope, Kelly does, in a way, appear as a SympatheticAdulterer, and even Ed admits later that him working too hard and ignoring her probably played a part in it, although he doesn't absolve Kelly of the responsibility (and neither does she). He even thanks her at one point (albeit in a slightly sarcastic manner) for cheating on him, thus sparing them both a marriage that was clearly not working. A woman Ed hooks up with does ask him why his wife didn't simply file for divorce, if she wasn't happy with him. Later on, the alien Kelly slept with shows up aboard the ship, and it's eventually revealed that his species secretes pheromones once a year, with effects very similar to a date rape drug. Both Kelly and Ed end up sleeping with him because of that (not at the same time), while Dr. Finn ends up doing... [[{{Squick}} something]] with Yaphit, whom she normally wouldn't even date. The ending leaves it ambiguous whether the original infidelity was willful on Kelly's part or under the influence of the pheromones.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* In ''Film/BadMoms'', Amy walks in on her husband having videochat sex with a woman from halfway across the country. She kicks him out of the house. This is just one in the long line of straws that finally cause her to snap. They do try counseling at one point, but even the therapist admits that they're probably better off on their own. This frees her up for a very attractive widowed dad at her kids' school.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 27 (click to see context) from:
* ''Series/TheOrville'': The series opens with [[TheKirk Ed]] walking in on his wife [[TheLancer Kelly]] having sex with an alien. The subsequent breakdown is why his career is so far off track for the rest of the pilot. [[spoiler:It is revealed at the end of the pilot that the entire series can be traced to this event, as it is Kelly's guilt that led her to pull the strings to get Ed his post as Captain of the Orville.]]
to:
* ''Series/TheOrville'': The series opens with [[TheKirk Ed]] walking in on his wife [[TheLancer Kelly]] having sex with an alien. The subsequent breakdown is why his career is so far off track for the rest of the pilot. [[spoiler:It is revealed at the end of the pilot that the entire series can be traced to this event, as it is Kelly's guilt that led her to pull the strings to get Ed his post as Captain of the Orville.]]]] Unlike a typical example of the trope, Kelly does, in a way, appear as a SympatheticAdulterer, and even Ed admits later that him working too hard and ignoring her probably played a part in it, although he doesn't absolve Kelly of the responsibility (and neither does she). He even thanks her at one point (albeit in a slightly sarcastic manner) for cheating on him, thus sparing them both a marriage that was clearly not working. A woman Ed hooks up with does ask him why his wife didn't simply file for divorce, if she wasn't happy with him.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* In ''Film/NothingToLose'', Nick comes home and finds his boss's cufflinks on the kitchen counter. He hears a woman moaning upstairs, so he walks up and spies his wife riding a man. Devastated, he leaves, goes for a drive, and a carjacker named T-Paul tries to rob him at gunpoint. Not caring what happens to him anymore, Nick puts the pedal to the metal, ignoring T-Paul's gun in his face. Later on, when they resolve their differences and become friends, Nick decides to rob his boss, since, as a loyal assistant, he knows the boss's safe code. [[spoiler:He later confronts his wife about the adultery, and finds out that her sister is visiting them with her husband. Apparently, they decided to take advantage of the owners not being home and screwed in their bed (and Nick only saw the woman from the back). The cufflinks were left by his boss the last time they invited him for dinner]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Deleted line(s) 35,37 (click to see context) :
[[folder:Web Original]]
* Referenced in an episode of Website/{{Cracked}}'s ''Obsessive Pop Culture Disorder''. In the episode [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikUz-s8lBVI&list=PL_saLI-LH-VoIJCsCXE6Qa2lS37kPS2od&index=9 "6 Bizarrely Specific Scenes Hollywood Won't Quit Using]], this trope is covered and examples from several works are given and reasoning behind it is explored. The basic conclusion is that it's often used as an excuse for the (almost invariably male) lead to leave his old life behind and start anew.
Added DiffLines:
[[folder:Web Original]]
* Referenced in an episode of Website/{{Cracked}}'s ''Obsessive Pop Culture Disorder''. In the episode [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikUz-s8lBVI&list=PL_saLI-LH-VoIJCsCXE6Qa2lS37kPS2od&index=9 "6 Bizarrely Specific Scenes Hollywood Won't Quit Using]], this trope is covered and examples from several works are given and reasoning behind it is explored. The basic conclusion is that it's often used as an excuse for the (almost invariably male) lead to leave his old life behind and start anew.
[[/folder]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[folder:Video Game]]
* The main plot of ''VideoGame/LifeIsStrangeBeforeTheStorm'' is kicked off by Rachel [[spoiler:pulling Chloe into her investigation of a secret her father appears to be keeping, which turns out to be an affair with a mysterious woman.]]
* The main plot of ''VideoGame/LifeIsStrangeBeforeTheStorm'' is kicked off by Rachel [[spoiler:pulling Chloe into her investigation of a secret her father appears to be keeping, which turns out to be an affair with a mysterious woman.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 5,6 (click to see context) from:
Subtrope of YourCheatingHeart. The protagonist might find out through a BedroomAdulteryScene.
to:
Subtrope of YourCheatingHeart. The protagonist might find out through a BedroomAdulteryScene.
BedroomAdulteryScene. A similar trope is OutOfJobIntoThePlot.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Created from YKTTW
Added DiffLines:
So, you're writing a story and you need your character to be both immediately sympathetic to the audience and motivated to suddenly change their life in a dramatic way: How about you have them walk in on their partner in the middle of having sex with someone else? Witnessing this infidelity shows that the protagonist as down on their luck and implies that their personal life was unhappy and/or unfulfilling, paving the way for the drastic change that comprises the work's gimmick. It also establishes them as single, just in time for the introduction of the work's LoveInterest.
Works that use this trope rarely focus on the ex or the causes of the affair (if they do, the ex is rarely portrayed as a SympatheticAdulterer, since the audience needs to root for the protagonist, and may become a villain with this trope as an EstablishingCharacterMoment), and generally do not try to salvage the previous relationship after it has served its purpose.
Subtrope of YourCheatingHeart. The protagonist might find out through a BedroomAdulteryScene.
----
!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Film/SlidingDoors'': While the two timelines split with Helen missing the titular doors, the more important catalyst for divergence is when the Helen who caught the train walks in on her boyfriend cheating on her.
* ''Film/MrRight'': Martha begins the film by breaking up with her boyfriend after catching him cheating on her. This conveniently leaves her free to start dating [[RetiredBadass ex-]][[HitmanWithAHeart hitman]] Francis.
* ''Film/HeadOverHeels'': Amanda walking in on her boyfriend cheating on her is what leads her to moving in with her friends, and eventually, start [[StalkerWithACrush spying on her neighbour.]]
* ''Film/SomethingToTalkAbout'': Grace finds out her husband is cheating on her, which causes her to move into her parent's ranch.
* ''Film/LoveActually'': Jamie (Creator/ColinFirth), a dissatisfied writer, walks in on his girlfriend cheating on him with his brother. This makes him go to France to write for some time, where he meets his love interest Aurelia.
* ''Film/OldSchool'' opens with Luke Wilson's character coming home early from a business trip to find his girlfriend watching pornography. He initially thinks this is actually a turn-on and gets excited... until several [[NakedPeopleAreFunny naked people enter the room]] and her cheating becomes apparent. And then he goes and moves out and begins a frat for old people.
* ''Film/LuckyNumberSlevin'': Slevin is staying at Nick's place because he walked in on his wife cheating on him. This leads him to being mistaken for Nick and asked to WorkOffTheDebt that Nick had with a mob boss. [[spoiler:[[PlayingWithATrope Subverted]] by the fact that it turns out Slevin was lying about this story.]]
* ''Film/ThisIsWhereILeaveYou'': Judd's (Creator/JasonBateman) misfortunes begin with him finding out his wife is cheating on him... with his boss, leading him to lose his job.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/MeMyselfAndI'': The series follows the events of Alex's life following three separate life-defining incidents that occurred in 1991, 2017 and 2042. The middle storyline follows Alex's life after he walked in on his wife sleeping with a paramedic.
* ''Series/TheOrville'': The series opens with [[TheKirk Ed]] walking in on his wife [[TheLancer Kelly]] having sex with an alien. The subsequent breakdown is why his career is so far off track for the rest of the pilot. [[spoiler:It is revealed at the end of the pilot that the entire series can be traced to this event, as it is Kelly's guilt that led her to pull the strings to get Ed his post as Captain of the Orville.]]
* ''Series/NewGirl'': The series begins with Jessica Day coming home early to surprise her boyfriend while wearing nothing but a trenchcoat (and a ribbon). Unfortunately for her, he's cheating on her with another girl and she winds up moving out, leading to the RoommateCom premise of the show.
* She isn't the protagonist, but ''Series/JaneTheVirgin'''s convoluted plot is kickstarted when Luisa walks in on her wife cheating on her. The fragile state of mind this puts her in leads to Luisa making the crucial mistake of accidentally artificially inseminating Jane instead of Petra. Luisa herself takes the split badly - she returns to her former alcoholism, goes soul-searching in some temples abroad, and hooks up with her ex-slash-stepmom.
* ''Series/{{Crashing}}'': Semi-autobiographical, this series stars Creator/PeteHolmes AsHimself. After walking in on his wife (played by Creator/LaurenLapkus) cheating on him, Pete decides to try his hand at Stand Up comedy and must ''[[PunBasedTitle crash]]'' on the couch of his comedian friends as he no longer has anywhere to live.
* ''Series/NecessaryRoughness'': Dani finds out that her husband has been having affairs right under her nose. She promptly kicks him out of the house, files for divorce, and gets a job as a therapist for a professional football team.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Original]]
* Referenced in an episode of Website/{{Cracked}}'s ''Obsessive Pop Culture Disorder''. In the episode [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikUz-s8lBVI&list=PL_saLI-LH-VoIJCsCXE6Qa2lS37kPS2od&index=9 "6 Bizarrely Specific Scenes Hollywood Won't Quit Using]], this trope is covered and examples from several works are given and reasoning behind it is explored. The basic conclusion is that it's often used as an excuse for the (almost invariably male) lead to leave his old life behind and start anew.
[[/folder]]
----
Works that use this trope rarely focus on the ex or the causes of the affair (if they do, the ex is rarely portrayed as a SympatheticAdulterer, since the audience needs to root for the protagonist, and may become a villain with this trope as an EstablishingCharacterMoment), and generally do not try to salvage the previous relationship after it has served its purpose.
Subtrope of YourCheatingHeart. The protagonist might find out through a BedroomAdulteryScene.
----
!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Film/SlidingDoors'': While the two timelines split with Helen missing the titular doors, the more important catalyst for divergence is when the Helen who caught the train walks in on her boyfriend cheating on her.
* ''Film/MrRight'': Martha begins the film by breaking up with her boyfriend after catching him cheating on her. This conveniently leaves her free to start dating [[RetiredBadass ex-]][[HitmanWithAHeart hitman]] Francis.
* ''Film/HeadOverHeels'': Amanda walking in on her boyfriend cheating on her is what leads her to moving in with her friends, and eventually, start [[StalkerWithACrush spying on her neighbour.]]
* ''Film/SomethingToTalkAbout'': Grace finds out her husband is cheating on her, which causes her to move into her parent's ranch.
* ''Film/LoveActually'': Jamie (Creator/ColinFirth), a dissatisfied writer, walks in on his girlfriend cheating on him with his brother. This makes him go to France to write for some time, where he meets his love interest Aurelia.
* ''Film/OldSchool'' opens with Luke Wilson's character coming home early from a business trip to find his girlfriend watching pornography. He initially thinks this is actually a turn-on and gets excited... until several [[NakedPeopleAreFunny naked people enter the room]] and her cheating becomes apparent. And then he goes and moves out and begins a frat for old people.
* ''Film/LuckyNumberSlevin'': Slevin is staying at Nick's place because he walked in on his wife cheating on him. This leads him to being mistaken for Nick and asked to WorkOffTheDebt that Nick had with a mob boss. [[spoiler:[[PlayingWithATrope Subverted]] by the fact that it turns out Slevin was lying about this story.]]
* ''Film/ThisIsWhereILeaveYou'': Judd's (Creator/JasonBateman) misfortunes begin with him finding out his wife is cheating on him... with his boss, leading him to lose his job.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/MeMyselfAndI'': The series follows the events of Alex's life following three separate life-defining incidents that occurred in 1991, 2017 and 2042. The middle storyline follows Alex's life after he walked in on his wife sleeping with a paramedic.
* ''Series/TheOrville'': The series opens with [[TheKirk Ed]] walking in on his wife [[TheLancer Kelly]] having sex with an alien. The subsequent breakdown is why his career is so far off track for the rest of the pilot. [[spoiler:It is revealed at the end of the pilot that the entire series can be traced to this event, as it is Kelly's guilt that led her to pull the strings to get Ed his post as Captain of the Orville.]]
* ''Series/NewGirl'': The series begins with Jessica Day coming home early to surprise her boyfriend while wearing nothing but a trenchcoat (and a ribbon). Unfortunately for her, he's cheating on her with another girl and she winds up moving out, leading to the RoommateCom premise of the show.
* She isn't the protagonist, but ''Series/JaneTheVirgin'''s convoluted plot is kickstarted when Luisa walks in on her wife cheating on her. The fragile state of mind this puts her in leads to Luisa making the crucial mistake of accidentally artificially inseminating Jane instead of Petra. Luisa herself takes the split badly - she returns to her former alcoholism, goes soul-searching in some temples abroad, and hooks up with her ex-slash-stepmom.
* ''Series/{{Crashing}}'': Semi-autobiographical, this series stars Creator/PeteHolmes AsHimself. After walking in on his wife (played by Creator/LaurenLapkus) cheating on him, Pete decides to try his hand at Stand Up comedy and must ''[[PunBasedTitle crash]]'' on the couch of his comedian friends as he no longer has anywhere to live.
* ''Series/NecessaryRoughness'': Dani finds out that her husband has been having affairs right under her nose. She promptly kicks him out of the house, files for divorce, and gets a job as a therapist for a professional football team.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Original]]
* Referenced in an episode of Website/{{Cracked}}'s ''Obsessive Pop Culture Disorder''. In the episode [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikUz-s8lBVI&list=PL_saLI-LH-VoIJCsCXE6Qa2lS37kPS2od&index=9 "6 Bizarrely Specific Scenes Hollywood Won't Quit Using]], this trope is covered and examples from several works are given and reasoning behind it is explored. The basic conclusion is that it's often used as an excuse for the (almost invariably male) lead to leave his old life behind and start anew.
[[/folder]]
----
