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1[[quoteright:349:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/view_askew_2.png]]
2
3TheVerse of the eight films in Creator/KevinSmith's New Jersey Trilogy, named for his production company [[http://www.viewaskew.com/main.html View Askew]]. It is LikeRealityUnlessNoted, sometimes [[{{Masquerade}} hidden]] (active divine and infernal forces) and some visible ("Mooby's" fast food chain and several other multinational corporations). And the occasional [[Film/{{Dogma}} giant poop monster]].
4
5[[AC: The Askewniverse films are as follows:]]
6[[index]]
7* ''Film/{{Clerks}}'' (1994)
8* ''Film/{{Mallrats}}'' (1995)
9* ''Film/ChasingAmy'' (1997)
10* ''Film/{{Dogma}}'' (1999)
11* ''Film/JayAndSilentBobStrikeBack'' (2001)
12* ''Film/ClerksII'' (2006)
13* ''Film/JayAndSilentBobReboot'' (2019)
14* ''Film/ClerksIII'' (2022)
15
16[[AC:Three animated adaptations:]]
17* ''WesternAnimation/ClerksTheAnimatedSeries'' (2000)
18* ''Clerks: The Lost Scene'' (2004)
19* ''Jay and Silent Bob's Super Groovy Cartoon Movie!'' (2013)
20[[/index]]
21
22[[AC: Related films with Askewniverse characters:]]
23* ''Film/Scream3'' (2000)
24* ''Film/ZackAndMiriMakeAPorno'' (2008)
25
26[[AC: The Askewniverse comics are also:]]
27* ''Clerks (comic)''
28* ''Clerks Holiday Special''
29* ''Chasing Dogma''
30* ''Bluntman and Chronic''
31* ''Jay and Silent Bob in Walt Flanagan's Dog''
32* ''Quick Stops''
33
34[[AC:VideoGames]]
35* ''Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl'' (2020)
36* ''Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch'' (2024)
37----
38!!Some features of the View Askewniverse:
39* AllThereInTheManual:
40** The comic series ''Chasing Dogma'', which bridges ''Chasing Amy'' and ''Dogma'', and explains just how Jay and Silent Bob ended up in Illinois;
41** Various director commentaries point out things never explained in the film, like Brodie Bruce and Randal Graves' relationship (they're cousins), or that Rick Derris is Jay's older brother.
42* AmbiguouslyGay: "When you do it, you think about guys!"
43** [[Film/{{Dogma}} "Dude, not all the time!"]]
44* AnachronicOrder: ''Film/{{Mallrats}}'' is the second film in the series, but actually occurs on the day before the events of ''Film/{{Clerks}}''. The rest of the films are chronological, but the comics are set at points throughout the history (one of them is actually the earliest occurring story). And no one knows when - or even if - the animated series fits in.
45* TheAnimatedSeries: ''[[WesternAnimation/ClerksTheAnimatedSeries Clerks]]'' got a short-lived one.
46* AntiHero: Jay and Silent Bob.
47* ArcNumber: '''''Thirty-Seven!!!'''''
48* AsideGlance
49* BackToSchool: See below under WhatCouldHaveBeen.
50* BookEnds: The 'Verse begins with ''Film/{{Clerks}}'' and ends with ''Film/ClerksIII''.
51** In ''[[Film/JayAndSilentBobStrikeBack Strike Back]]'', which was originally [[TrilogyCreep supposed to be the end of the series]], God herself ''literally'' closed "The Book" of the Jersey Saga.
52* BrandX: "Nails" cigarettes, Chewlie's gum and Mooby's restaurants, among others.
53* TheCameo: Jay and Silent Bob have a short cameo on the movie set of the {{Show Within A Show}} "Stab" in ''Film/{{Scream 3}}''. Then, when in ''...Strike Back'', they interrupt the filming of a fictional ''Film/{{Scream}}'' sequel to rescue their monkey.
54** That scene is a lot funnier since ''Film/{{Scream 4}}'' was released.
55* CatchPhraseSpoutingDuo
56* CerebusRollercoaster: While each film does have comedic moments, every other one seems to land either hard on the DenserAndWackier side (usually the ones focusing on Jay and Silent Bob) or the DarkerAndEdgier side.
57* ClusterFBomb
58** In ''song form'', even.
59---> "[[Music/PrincesAssociates Fuck fuck fuck, mother-mother-fuck, mother-mother-fuck-fuck, motherfucker motherfuck noise noise noise.]]"
60* ContinuitySnarl: In ''Film/JayAndSilentBobStrikeBack'', Creator/MattDamon appearing AsHimself references acting in ''Film/{{Dogma}}'', while several other references in the same film clearly establish the events of that film as having happened. Presumably, Damon and Affleck did a completely different film of the same title in The View Askewniverse.
61* EveryoneWentToSchoolTogether: Just pay attention to many of the conversations involving characters or locations from other films, and you'll pick up on this real quick.
62* TheGhost: A literal example with Rand and Brodie's Cousin Walter (WordOfGod confirms that all three are distant relatives), who dies via autofellatio before the events of the franchise and therefore isn't in any of the movies, but whose sexual deviancy is a frequent topic of discussion among the two surviving characters.
63* GoodAdulteryBadAdultery: Usually played for laughs of the 'ex-girlfriend cheated on the hapless hero' variety - Caitlin cheated on Dante a lot ([[WesternAnimation/ClerksTheAnimatedSeries mostly with painters]]), as did Gwen with T.S, though Gwen at least seems to feel a bit guilty.
64* {{Fanservice}}: Creator/JoeyLaurenAdams topless in ''Mallrats''.
65** Lee and Affleck's lip-lock in ''Film/ChasingAmy''.
66** Creator/SalmaHayek playing a muse turned stripper in ''Dogma''.
67** Creator/ElizaDushku, Creator/AliLarter, Creator/ShannonElizabeth and Jennifer Schwalbach-Smith in [[SpyCatsuit spy catsuits]] in ''...Strike Back''.
68** Jay doing a ''Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs'' tribute striptease in ''Clerks 2''. Sadly instantly becomes FanDisservice when it cuts to him fully nude and posing like Buffalo Bill, but the start ... Ooh, chapstick.
69** Creator/RosarioDawson's braless dance in ''Clerks 2''. In Smith's words, "She would stop, but they would keep going."
70* FinaglesLaw
71* HaveIMentionedIAmHeterosexualToday: Jay.
72* HeadTiltinglyKinky
73* HeterosexualLifePartners: A big trademark of Smith's is that the leads of these films are often a male duo of this variety: [[Film/{{Clerks}} Dante and Randall]], [[Film/{{Mallrats}} Brodie and T.S.]], [[Film/ChasingAmy Banky and Holden]], [[Film/{{Dogma}} Bartlebee and Loki]] and of course the {{trope namer}}s themselves, Jay and Silent Bob.
74* HighSchoolRejects
75* InterspeciesRomance: It's not bestiality. It's interspecies ''erotica'', fucko!
76* InvisibleToNormals
77* ItWillNeverCatchOn[=/=]VindicatedByHistory: Kevin Smith was told during production of ''Mallrats'' that a gag where semen gets stuck in Joey Lauren Adams' hair had to be cut. Because it was gross, would never sell and it would doom the movie, etc. Except for, you know, that [[Film/TheresSomethingAboutMary other movie]] that did it three years later and grossed over 350 million freakin' dollars.
78* {{Jerkass}}: Shannon Hamilton.
79* {{Joisey}}: Portrayed sympathetically, as Kevin Smith and most of the cast are natives.
80* KavorkaMan: Downplayed with Dante. He's not ugly or even unattractive, but you wouldn't think a [[{{Wangst}} spineless, whiny manchild]] would wind up in ''two'' separate love triangles, both times with women considerably out of his league.
81* LastHetRomance: In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/ClerksTheAnimatedSeries'', Randal discovers that all of his ex girlfriends became lesbians after dating him. Subverted with [[Film/ChasingAmy Alyssa]], for whom Holden ends up becoming her ''first'' het romance after years of only dating women and [[spoiler:the last before dating another woman, making him her ''only'' het romance]].
82* LikeAnOldMarriedCouple: Jay and Silent Bob go ''way'' beyond just HeterosexualLifePartners, especially since Kevin Smith apparently based their relationship on that of his own [[MotorMouth mother]] and [[TheQuietOne father]].
83* LikeRealityUnlessNoted: ''Film/{{Clerks}}'', a SliceOfLife DIY indie film, and ''Film/ChasingAmy'', a tasteful, grounded dramedy, both take place place in the same continuity as ''Film/{{Dogma}}'', a ReligiousHorror movie that includes a giant poop monster. 'Nuff said.
84* ManChild: Most of the male characters in these films are incompetent losers or just straight-up idiots. See "WomenAreWiser" below.
85* MeanBoss: Apparently, Dante and Randal's boss. In ''Clerks'', he went to Vermont, leaving Dante stuck at work for the entire day despite assuring him he'll only be working a few hours. In Episode 4 of the cartoon, he didn't hire a lawyer for Dante even though he said he would.
86* MockyMouse: Several of the films, most notably ''Film/{{Dogma}}'' and ''Film/ClerksII'', feature a cartoon cow named Mooby, who has several noticeable similarities in design to WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse (especially the gloves and buttoned shorts) and is the focus of a profitable multimedia franchise. Kevin Smith even stated that the intention was for Mooby to look similar enough to Mickey without risking a lawsuit from Creator/{{Disney}}.
87* NerdsAreVirgins: Averted. Not only does nearly everyone in these films (save Elias) have a healthy sex life, but because EveryoneWentToSchoolTogether, most of them are separated by [[OneDegreeOfSeparation approximately one sexual partner]].
88* NoodleIncident: The events from Julie Dwyer's wake in ''Clerks'' are never clear after we see the two main characters running from the family.
89** Subverted in the comic, and later when the wake was animated and added to the Clerks X 10th anniversary edition.
90* NotSoDifferentRemark: Loki directly compares Bartleby to [[{{Satan}} Lucifer]] (alluded to via his former title the "Morning Star") when he starts ranting about how God treats angels.
91-->"You sound like the Morning Star!"
92* OnceAnEpisode: Silent Bob will speak. Sometimes it's a single line, sometimes an entire monologue.
93* OneDegreeOfSeparation: All the characters either know each other from high school, or from past events in other films. Jay and Silent Bob are the centerpiece of the View Askewniverse, being the only characters to appear in every film. Where to begin:
94** Randal Graves and Brodie Bruce are cousins.
95** Dante Hicks is related to Gil (Suitor #3 on ''Truth or Date''), Jim (the exec who wants to make ''Bluntman and Chronic'' into a cartoon series), and Grant (the reporter who is killed by Bartleby and Loki). To better identify all the Hicks cousins, well, notice that they're all played by Brian O'Halloran.
96** Caitlin Bree and Alyssa Jones were best friends in high school, cheated on Dante while he was dating Caitlin.
97** Alyssa's two sisters are Heather, who goes out on a date with Rick Derris in the original ''Clerks'', and Tricia, the 15-year-old from ''Mallrats'' who wrote... you know. Further confirmed when Alyssa and Tricia exit the Bluntman and Chronic movie premiere together in ''... Strike Back''.
98** Speaking of Rick Derris, he managed to nail sisters Alyssa and Heather, and was also one of the many guys Caitlin cheated on Dante with. In ''Mallrats'', it's mentioned he also slept with Gwen, who had previously gone out with T.S. Quint.
99** Shannon Hamilton also had sex with two of the Jones sisters, Alyssa and Tricia; a video of his encounter with each was produced. He also slept with Gwen.
100** Brandi Svenning, T.S. Quint's girlfriend in ''Mallrats'' had previously been involved with Banky Edwards from ''Chasing Amy''.
101* OnlySixFaces: The small number of actors involved in Film/{{Clerks}} caused a live-action version of this trope.
102* PhysicalGod: Somewhat subverted.
103* PowersThatBe
104* PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy: Jay, at times.
105* PunnyName: In ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'', Federal Wildlife Marshal Willenholly is named for the characters Marshall, Will and Holly on ''Series/LandOfTheLost1974''.
106** [[HilariousInHindsight Made even more amusing]] because the character in question is played by Will Ferrell, and Ferrell later starred in the ''Film/LandOfTheLost'' [[TheMovie feature film.]]
107* RealWomenDontWearDresses[=/=]MostWritersAreMale: The Askewniverse does not lack well-written female characters by any means. ''Feminine'' women, on the other hand, are practically non-existent.
108* RecursiveCanon: InUniverse, the movies ''Clerks'', ''Mallrats'', and ''Dogma'' exist as well (presumably as slightly different movies from the ones we know) . ''Chasing Amy'' is confirmed to ''not'' exist, having been written as a comic book by Holden instead.
109* ReferenceOverdosed
110* {{Retcon}}: Kevin Smith [[http://www.mtv.com/news/2430574/kevin-smith-says-view-askewniverse-wont-be-mentioned-in-zack-and-miri/ stated that]] ''Film/ZackAndMiriMakeAPorno'' is not part of the universe, but included the character Brandon St. Randy in ''Film/JayAndSilentBobReboot''.
111* SantaClaus: Clerks Holiday Special
112* SeinfeldianConversation: Several, with memorable inquiries such as the morality of the Rebels in ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', and the merits of not/going [[{{Squick}} ass-to-mouth]].
113* ShoutOut: Even the entries that aren't so over-the-top get their share, like the pastiche of a memorable ''Film/{{Jaws}}'' scene in ''Chasing Amy''.
114** A substantial portion of the dialogue in ''Dogma'' is either quoted from or referring to several movies and shows, including ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', ''Franchise/StarWars'', ''Film/TheKarateKid'', and ''Series/TheSixMillionDollarMan''.
115** Also, ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'' is essentially one long parade of cameos, with nearly every single one of them accompanied by a ShoutOut to that person's most famous previous movie role. That, and the bong-lightsaber scene.
116*** “'''HEY, KIDS! IT'S MARK HAMILL! [APPLAUSE]'''”
117*** In fairness, he did that because test audiences failed to recognize Hamill.
118* ShrugTake:
119-->'''Silent Bob:''' I got nothing.
120* SilentBob: Also the TropeNamer.
121* TheSlacker: Pretty much every single male character in the universe.
122* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism: ''Film/{{Clerks}}'' was a pretty bleak and cynical film for the most part. Some of the later films were more in the middle. Every film from ''Clerks II'' and onward has leaned more towards the idealistic end.
123* SpeechCentricWork: Even Smith acknowledges that his movies lack real visual panache, but ''Clerks'' was a success based entirely on how witty and memorable the dialogue was. Creator/RogerEbert also praised ''Chasing Amy'' for an extended scene where Holden asks Alyssa questions about lesbians and held nothing back.
124* TheStoner: Jay.
125* ThoseTwoGuys: Jay and Silent Bob; Steve-Dave and Walter.
126* TranslatorBuddy: Jay to Silent Bob.
127* TransparentCloset: Jay, to the point that a deleted scene in ''Clerks II'' had Silent Bob get fed up and break his silence for the sole purpose of calling him out on it.
128* UncannyFamilyResemblance: Dante Hicks and his sundry cousins, [[ActingForTwo all played by Brian O'Halloran]].
129* TheVerse: Not all of the films in this series are direct sequels of each other, but they all take place in the same universe and Jay and Silent Bob tend to pop up in all of them.
130* TheVoiceless: God, [=LaFours=], Silent Bob.
131* WillReturnCaption: Some of the films parody this with a "Jay and Silent Bob will return" caption, referring to two characters who are usually recurring minor ones rather than a hero.
132* WomenAreWiser: The more sensible, intelligent characters in the Askewniverse tend to be women, while the men are almost always perverted slackers who end up causing their own misfortunes.

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