Basic Trope: An ongoing storyline is abruptly abandoned without any proper denouement or acknowledgement.
- Straight: In The Alice and Bob Show, Kevin starts trying to find his birth father, whom he never knew. Kevin is shown working on the project for some episodes, until he just suddenly stops doing so from one episode to the next, without any explanation or even any acknowledgement that he has stopped said work at all. The plotline is never resolved, and isn't even mentioned again.
- Exaggerated: The entire premise of the show was originally about Kevin trying to find his absent father, but by season two the show became a comedy about Alice, Bob, and Kevin running a pizza restaurant together.
- Downplayed: Kevin mentions that he'd like to find his birth father one day. The subject isn't brought up again.
- Justified: All the characters in "The Alice and Bob Show" have very busy, crazy lives, so it's not a wonder that they forget some of their goals every now and then.
- Inverted: A Time Skip dumps the audience into the middle of an obviously important and complex set of events, but gives no clue as to how the heroes arrived there or why it all matters so much.
- Subverted:
- In The Alice and Bob Show, Kevin starts trying to find his birth father, who he never knew. We don't hear much about this for three seasons, but then the results of his search turn out to be the centerpiece of season 4.
- Plot Archaeology
- Double Subverted: We hear Kevin briefly mention his ongoing search once or twice a season. Then he finds his father! Then we never hear anything else about it or meet the man.
- Parodied: Kevin has a very short attention span and forgot about his search at the first distraction he found. Pretty much every major plotline Kevin is involved in tends to end that way.
- Zig Zagged: The plotline of Kevin's search is picked up and dropped for long periods multiple times throughout the series.
- Averted: The storyline with Kevin finding his biological father is resolved.
- Enforced:
- The plotline was deemed to be boring by fans and critics.
- The Alice and Bob Show has a large cast, with many different plotlines, so it's easy to lose track of them.
- The actor who played Kevin couldn't return to the show for whatever reason, whether that be a fall-out with the producers, scheduling conflicts with another show, or illness. Therefore, the storyline couldn't be completed.
- The writers didn't have any inspiration to finish the storyline, perhaps never planning out how they were actually going to resolve it.
- The arc depended on a crossover license that got rescinded prior to the last part being released.
- Lampshaded: "Wait, wasn't Kevin all about finding his father? Is he still searching or did he give up or what?"
- Invoked: Kevin would like to find his birth father, but he doesn't treat it as a priority over his friends and work, which is what the show revolves around.
- Exploited: Kevin realizes that his ongoing search for his birth father has gained him sympathy and attention from others. He starts using this plotline to manipulate people and gain personal benefits, such as favors, special treatment, or emotional support.
- Defied: Both Alice and Bob drag Kevin into travelling out of state to find his father, and they don't plan to return until they find him.
- Discussed:Kevin: Well, looks like all's well that ends well.
Alice: But what about your father?
Kevin: ...huh?
[Roll credits] - Conversed: "The Kevin actor had a row with the director and left the show. I guess we'll never find out that thing about his father."
- Played For Laughs: Kevin is asked what happened to his father. He says, "It's a long story. I don't wanna talk about it. Let's just say I'll never eat avocados again."
- Intended Audience Reaction: Kevin's father appears in the finale, and berates Kevin for forgetting about him.
- Implied: Throughout the series, there are subtle hints and references to Kevin's search for his birth father, but it is never explicitly shown or addressed in detail. The audience can infer that the storyline is still ongoing or has some impact on Kevin's character development, even though it is not explicitly shown on screen.
- Deconstructed: The abrupt abandonment of Kevin's search for his birth father is explored in a realistic and negative light. The show highlights the emotional consequences of leaving a significant storyline unresolved, portraying Kevin's feelings of emptiness, confusion, and dissatisfaction with the lack of closure. The deconstruction exposes the storytelling flaw and the potential impact it has on character development and audience engagement.
- Reconstructed: Despite the initial abandonment of the storyline, the show later revisits Kevin's search for his birth father and provides a satisfying resolution. The reconstruction acknowledges the previous misstep and rectifies it by reintroducing the plotline in a meaningful way, offering a proper denouement that satisfies the audience's curiosity and gives Kevin's character arc a fulfilling conclusion.
- Played For Drama: The abrupt abandonment of Kevin's search for his birth father is treated as a serious and emotional plot point. The show delves into the reasons behind Kevin's inability to continue the search, exploring themes of loss, identity, and the longing for connection. The unresolved storyline becomes a source of internal conflict and personal growth for Kevin, adding depth and dramatic tension to his character development.
Back to Aborted Arc
