History WebVideo / EscapeTheNight

* AllWebbedUp: Happens to Alex in Episode 3, as well as the corpses found in the same episode.

* HarpingOnAboutHarpies: Two harpies appear in Episode 6.

* HopeSpot: [[spoiler:It seems like Episode 5 will end with none of the guests dying, but then the Sorceress gets pissed....]]

* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: The ''Leviathan'' Seals.

* PinkySwear: The "Pinky Alliance" between Tyler and Joey in Episode 8.

* SteamPunk: The theme of Episode 7.

* ThePointsMeanNothing: A rare RealityTV Example; a common misconception/criticism with this show is that the "gameplay" is very loose and unconnected, where various deaths arriving from twist's that deviate from the standard "death challenge" formula (notable examples such as [[spoiler:Glozell, Tana, Saifya, etc.]], where they had absolutely no chance to defend themselves or say goodbye) can be seen as blatantly unfair ''if'' seen as a regular reality competition, when in reality it is allowed, because unlike a traditional example where there is usually a cash prize for being the last one standing (see ''Series/MurderInSmallTownX'', ''Series/TheMurderGame'', ''Series/Whodunnit2013'', Genre/Story Competitions that follow this example), in this show, the [=YouTubers=] are not rewarded with any type of prize for "surviving" to the end of their season. This allows them to not focus on actually "surviving" by strategizing and metagame with no actual threat of losing out on any "real" stake, but [[{{LARP}} rather try to build the best storyline possible for their CHARACTER and roleplay with the situation's provided in each episode]]. People who treat it as the former tend to be frustrated with this show, as it doesn't fit into their conventions (even when compared to other shows like it, such as the show's listed above), when it was never intended to in the first place.

* AerithAndBob: From the Dark Army general Arlyn (S2), the Confederate general Cash (S2), SAE members Jael and Ryu (S3); to CreepyHousekeeper Sarah (S1), UsefulNotes/WW1 soldier Colin (S1), Vampire Princess Alison (S2), [[IronicNickname The-Man-With-No-Name]] [[spoiler:Benjamin]] (S3) and Carnival Master [[spoiler:Nicholas]] (S3).

** Most non-Website/{{YouTube}}rs have names fitting to their era, only that there's a few...''odd''...ones that stand out for their time period. For example, in Season 2, [[RebelliousPrincess Alison]] was a popular name in the Middle Ages and the late 20th century, not the ''Victorian Era'', whereas 'Alice' would be more appropriate for the era. Meanwhile, in the same season, [[spoiler:[[SealedGoodInACan Riley]]]] was a [[GenderBlenderName ''masculine'']] name in the 19th century, but then [[spoiler:she was born in at least the ''18th'' century]]...

* DropTheHammer: The MonsterClown that Calliope beat up has a hammer.

* AnyoneCanDie: It's a elimination-based reality competition, so yes, almost everyone is up for grabs....

* TheBigGuy: Oli, [=DeStorm=] Jesse, Alex, [=MatPat=] and Manny are the most notable ones.

* CruelAndUnusualDeath: Several [=YouTubers=] died in ways which can be classified as such.

* FaceDeathWithDignity: [[spoiler:[=DeStorm=] in Season 2 Episode 4, then eventually his ex-ArchEnemy Alex in Season 4 Episode 8.]]

* GratuitousJapanese: Not the language, no, but there are plenty of Japanese-based characters - [[SpiderPeople Jorogumo, Kira and Haruko]]; [[WellIntentionedExtremist Katsumi]]; [[spoiler:[[BigDamnHeroes Ryu]]]]; etc.

---> '''Tana:''' History's repeating itself.

* AHouseDivided: Happens every season.

* OneSteveLimit: Defied. As of Season 3, there have been three characters named Caroline…and three Website/{{YouTube}}rs whose first names are Matthew. Even before then, there are two [=YouTubers=] named Andrea?

* RuleOfThree
** All Seasons:
*** 3 Website/{{YouTube}}rs survive. Every season.
** Season 1:
*** Antidote separated into 3 parts in Episode 1.
*** 3 items needed to perform the seance in Episode 3.
*** 3 steps in the Perverse Games in Episode 4.
*** 3 [[RiddleMeThis riddles]] [[TheseQuestionsThree to solve]] in the beginning of Episode 8.
*** 3 keys to free Vincent in Episode 9.
*** 3 [[spoiler:evil staff members]] in Episode 10.
** Season 2:
*** 3 Website/{{YouTube}}rs captured by Jorogumo and her minions in Episode 3.
*** 3 Leviathan Seals to wreck in Episode 10.
*** 3 [[{{Mooks}} Lieutenants]] killed while destroying the Leviathan Seals, also in Episode 10.
** Season 3:
*** 3 Website/{{YouTube}}rs initially captured by the clowns in Episode 1.
*** 3 rooms in the Funhouse in Episode 7.
*** 3 stages in the challenge of that episode.
*** 3 witches in Episode 8.
*** 3 curses to undo in Episode 8.
*** [[spoiler:3 [[WellIntentionedExtremist Society Against Evil]] members sent to defeat the Carnival Master initially in 1978.]]
*** 3 Life Stones to recover in Episode 10.
*** [[spoiler:3 people are revived using the Lazarus Harp.]]
** Season 4 (All Stars):
*** 9 jeweled keys to recover (9=3×3)
*** The medallion used to control the Minotaur was separated into three pieces.
*** 3 riddles to solve in the Minotaur's Maze.

* TheSmartGuy[=/=]TheSmartGirl: Eva, Matt Haag, Alex, Liza, Matthew Patrick and Safiya are the most notable ones.
* TimeTravel: So far, the first 3 seasons all involve this.

* AllMenArePerverts: Inverted in episode 8, when the remaining girls keep commenting on Colin's physique with little regard for anything else (such as ''the gun he is pointing at them''), to the irritation of everyone else.

* BenevolentBoss : Zigzagged with Arthur in the finale. While he verbally abuses Sarah and Marvin in that episode, he also compliments Marvin's gardening abilities.

* BitchInSheepsClothing: Justine was seen after [[spoiler:she sabotaged Andrea's rescue]], whether or not she actually is, the jury is still out on that one.

* DieselPunk: Has shades of this; it takes place in the RoaringTwenties and all.

* CircusOfFear: The setting for a good amount of Episode 5.
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Lele.

* TheDogWasTheMastermind: [[spoiler:Arthur the butler was working for the AncientEvil.]]
* DontTryThisAtHome: One at the beginning of Episode 8 due to the Russian Roulette challenge.

** During the final challenge in the finale the rules state that if a guest is captured they are instantly killed, while future seasons have it so they are given a few minutes to be rescued before being killed.

* FailureToSaveMurder: [[spoiler:Alice=Justine, Bob=Tim, Charlie=Creator/AndreaBrooks.]]

** FreezeFrameBonus: See above.

** Implied by the fandom in [[spoiler:Tim's]] case in Episode 8.
* HollywoodBoardGames: Since the premise of this RealityShow runs on solving sometimes deadly puzzles, it's not surprising that some of them are based on board games. One of the rooms has The Journalist and The Mobster play ''TabletopGame/{{Battleship}}''. The twist is that, instead of guessing where a ship is located, you guess where your opponent is. Kind of a RussianRoulette. As for characterization, well, The Journalist is TheSmartGal, so her approach is more strategic. The Mobster, on the other hand, is TheLoad, so he ends up losing. In the [[Fanfic/EscapeTheNightNovelization fanmade novelization]], it's even worse because Tim [[spoiler: accidentally shoots himself in the head]].
%%%%* Hollywood Exorcism : Two happen in Episode 6. [[spoiler: [[GoneHorriblyWrong Both of them end with someone dying tragically]].]]

* PluckyComicRelief: GloZell and Timothy.

* RussianRoulette: Tim and Eva play the unholy lovechild between this and {{TabletopGame/Battleship}}.

* WhamEpisode: Episode 6 introduces a drastic change of plans.

* CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot: Implied in Episodes 6 and 9. [[spoiler: The Ice Gem was in the ''compass''.]] When the [=YouTubers=] discover this, they are ''not'' happy. Some fans take this one step further, stating that [[spoiler: [[TheHeart Tana's]] death]] was for nothing.
* DamselInDistress: Liza is kidnapped in the first episode, and basically becomes this for the episode.

* ImAHumanitarian: Episode 5

* LevelAte: Episode 5, full stop.

* BigNO: The Website/{{YouTube}}rs when [[spoiler: Mortimer frees the Carnival Master]].

** "This is not an invitation to a ball or a dinner party." - Season 3 Invitation, Episode 1
** Especially Season 2. " I can deal with vampires, I can deal with werewolves, and…all sorts of other things." - Joey, Episode 1, ConfessionCam
** The 'insult' "[[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment stupid idiots]]" comes back for another finale (first appearance: Season 1 finale).

** In Episode 1, Calliope speaks of the Cursed God and the Evil. The mayor and everyone else dismiss her...until it is revealed that TheCuckoolanderWasRight.
** In Episode 5, Joey reveals the [[spoiler: BackFromTheDead]] and related stuff to plead his case. Zigzagged in this case because most of them appear to believe him...[[spoiler: except for Colleen, which sparks [[DoomedContrarian some conflict]] in the following episode]].
* ChekhovsGun: Ro somehow gets a dog plushie in Episode 1 called Blueberry. Blueberry is later thrown from the Ferris Wheel to distract the horde of clowns. It kind of succeeded.
** May be ChekhovsGift if she won it from a carnival game.
** Some fans consider him being thrown from the Ferris Wheel a TearJerker and/or a HeroicSacrifice.

* CuttingTheKnot: In Episode 6, [[spoiler:Joey, Rosanna, and Safiya]] have to measure out exactly four cups of blood with only a three cup and a five cup measure. Their solution? [[spoiler:Empty out another jar in the same room to store the two cups left over from pouring 5 into 3, then repeat]]. [[labelnote:The normal solution]]Fill the five cup measure, pour it into the three cup measure, and empty the three cup measure. Then pour the remaining two cups into the three cup measure, refill the five cup measure, and pour it into the three cup measure again. This time, it only takes one more cup to fill it, so four cups will be left in the five cup measure.[[/labelnote]]
* DamselInDistress: [[spoiler:Rosanna and Safiya]] are kidnapped by [[spoiler: the strongman and his girlfriend in the fifth episode and are locked up in the police station's jail cell]], but they work together with [[spoiler:Manny, Joey, and Mortimer]] to break out.
* DarkerAndEdgier: This Season involves torture methods. There's even an entire episode with that as a CO-THEME.
** And then there's Episode 9. The sheer amount of sexual assault can disgust even adults.
* DeadlyClosingCredits: Episode 9 ends with [[spoiler: the [[BigBad Carnival Master]] summoning zombies to chase the [=YouTubers=]]].
** Doubles as [[ExitPursuedByABear Exit, Pursued by Zombies]].

* EverythingsDeaderWithZombies: Episode 10.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: During "Funhouse", Angry Face Willie threatens to kill the group with a fish hook. [[spoiler: This is what he uses to kill Safiya.]]
* GreatOffscreenWar: In Episode 9, [[spoiler: the Carnival Master]] tells the remaining Website/{{YouTube}}rs that they were called into "a war that's not yours". This implies that the Society Against Evil is at war with evil. More about this war, however, remains unknown.

* NiceMeanAndInBetween: The final three, with [[spoiler:Matt]] as the nice one, [[spoiler:Nikita]] as the mean one, and [[spoiler:Joey]] as the in-between.

* PlatonicDeclarationOfLove: Matthew and Rosanna share one, [[spoiler:right before she dies]].
** Also Nikita to Manny in Episode 9, [[spoiler: right before she kills him]].
* PlatonicLifePartners: Implied. Nikita/Manny and Matt/Rosanna. Both pairs are extremely protective of each other and visible distraught at the possibility of losing the other in a challenge. The latter pair has even said they're LikeBrotherAndSister.
** Subverted in both cases, because [[spoiler: as of Episode 9, both Manny and Ro are dead]].
* PlotTwist: [[spoiler:In Episode 7, Manny and Nikita find that the one who voted the winner of the challenge in was the one to face death. Nikita won. Safiya was fishhooked.]] The fans did not take this well.
* [[spoiler:RayOfHopeEnding: Liza sends a message to Joey stating he can help bring everyone back to life.]]

* SequelHook: [[spoiler: The deceased Website/{{YouTube}}rs, using the Carnival Master's crystal, ask Joey to save them. This implies that Season 4 will be an All-Stars season.]]
* ThatLiarLies: How Colleen calls out [[CassandraTruth Joey]] in Episode 6. [[spoiler: [[DoomedContrarian It didn't end well for her.]]]]
--> '''Colleen:''' Liar. You're a ''liar''.

* TitleDrop: The headline of the newspaper found on the Ferris Wheel in Episode 1. "The Clowns Here Kill." Manny proceeds to Downplay this Trope with the series name, then the song at the finale ends up repeating the name of the series about a dozen times. Fantastic.
* TownWithADarkSecret: Ranks a 1 on the scale, because only Calliope knew of the secret, as far as the residents go. Hell, the main problem at the beginning is that NO ONE BELIEVED HER FROM THE START!!
* TragicMonster: With the exception of the killer clowns, the twin dolls, the witches, and Lucy and her demon dog, each of the Carnival Master’s "guardians" have had a tragic backstory.

* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: Given that the trailer footage contained [[spoiler:scenes of Matt that hadn't been shown by the time he died in Episode 5]], it was pretty clear that [[spoiler: his death wouldn't stick]].

* WhamEpisode: [[spoiler: In Episode 6, the Website/{{YouTube}}rs are given the Harp of Lazarus and are allowed to bring one of their deceased fellow Website/{{YouTube}}rs (of that season) back to life. They chose [[TheSmartGuy Matt]].]]
* WhamLine: In a flashback, by a SAE Member (Jael) in the In-Between Church to Joey - [[spoiler: "The Carnival Master has a crystal that can bring those you've lost in the past back to life."]]

* AnachronismStew: The male rebel from the ImperialChina episode wears a Manchu plait, which would not be in style for at least a century, and even then, the original Manchu plait did not look like that.
** Typical for Myth/KingArthur settings - medieval armour…prior to even 600 AD. Of course.

* ArcWords: Oddly enough, Episode 7 has one - "story".
* BilingualBonus: The mercenaries that the boys encounter first in Episode 4 speak [[UsefulNotes/ChineseLanguage Mandarin]], as a Chinese viewer verified, instead of something that invokes AsLongAsItSoundsForeign.

* BrickBreak: The boys have to break a board in Episode 4 to “show their worth”.
* CallBack: A lot - [[SchmuckBait try having]] a DrinkingGame with that in mind.
* ChekhovsGun: [[spoiler:Excalibur. It first appeared in Episode 5 and was used to slay the Black Knight, then was brought back in Episode 10, turned into the Sword of All Legends, then used to kill the Collector]].

* EngagementChallenge: Invoked by the Emperor’s mother to get his son a wife in the background of Episode 4. The girls compete in this, over [[MenAreStrongWomenArePretty beauty]], [[ProperLady etiquette]] and [[MenUseViolenceWomenUseCommunication communication]].
* {{Fanservice}}: Most notably, the dancers of Episode 7.
* FlashbackCut: Much more prominent in this season than previous seasons, likely due to being an All Stars season. If you drink every time there is a flashback in Episode 1 alone, you might end up pretty tipsy.

* FreezeFrameBonus: Scheherazade writes from right to left in the very first scene of her episode, as Arabic is writtem that way.
* GoneHorriblyWrong: It has been constantly re-emphasized that Season 4 was supposed to be a rescue mission. Obviously, that didn't work out as intended - the people you're supposed to be ''saving'' shouldn't be dying on a rescue mission of all things!

* InsaneTrollLogic: Bretman, in episode 6, gets three in a row. He is faced with the riddle "Feed me and I live, give me a drink and I'll die". First, he ignores the trapped Nikita's help (despite her getting the first riddle correct, and in this case she was also more or less on the mark) because "you got got for a reason", even though her getting caught had nothing to do with the riddles. Then, to answer the riddle, he chooses ''grapes'' - because (paraphrased) "when I'm eating grapes, I'm living, and when you smash grapes, you get wine, and drinking too much wine can kill you". And finally, when that fails, he has to be directly told by ''everyone'' what to use - and yet he has the gall to call ''them'' dumb, because the item they told him to use ("lighter") wasn't the ''exact'' thing he had to say out loud ("fire").

* KilledOffForReal: Anyone that dies in the dimension of Purgatory is ''permadead'', i.e. has no chance of ''ever'' coming back.

* MenAreStrongWomenArePretty: Enforced in Episode 4, where the boys and girls are separated. The former must prove themselves as worthy warriors or be sent to the final challenge, and the girls must compete in beauty, etiquette and communication to be married off to the Emperor (and not be possibly voted in, and to get the [[MacGuffin Key]] of the episode).
* {{Myth/Merlin}}: He shows up to aid the [=YouTubers=]!

* {{Pirate}}: Leaked months before the season.
* OurDragonsAreDifferent: A dragon shows up at the end of Episode 3, and into Episode 4. A Chinese dragon, like a dragon dance form (even though dragon dances are somewhat different that depicted)…that breathes fire. [[note]] Chinese dragons are not allued to fire unless punished; they're water/sky entities [[/note]]
* OurMinotaursAreDifferent: Remember Episode 6, where they brought in the Minotaur, complete with maze?

* PlotTwist: Erm, if a pre-release one counts... the TeasingCreator established the season to be an All-Stars season, only to throw in a newbie for the last character introduced, probably shocking many fans.

** Episode 5. [[spoiler:We have a double death.]] The fandom is screaming outrage worse than that time with [[spoiler:Safiya]], and that's saying something.

* SheIsTheKing: Played with. Several of the [=YouTubers=] voted [[spoiler:Joey]] into the challenge because they thought that the King of Camelot had to be male. [[spoiler:Colleen]] got the tears of the Lady of the Lake instead, drank them and pulled out Excalibur, then killed the BlackKnight!

* WaxMuseumMorgue: The [=YouTuber=] exhibit looks suspiciously like one of these.

%%* CuriosityKilledTheCast: Too many times: accepting the invitations - ALL THREE TIMES, that cursed jack-in-the-box in Season 3 Episode 1...''ugh''.
%%* DarkFantasy: Especially in Season 2.