The Idol Experiment
is a tumblr and Discord based original character roleplay that is based on Killing game stories such as Danganronpa and Zero Escape, reality tv shows like Big Brother, and the idol industry. The idols participating in the Idol Experiment have agreed to do so willingly, unaware of the deadly game that awaits them.
Tropes appearing include:
- A House Divided: Being on a reality TV show will inevitably lead to drama. Throw in a couple murders and, well, it's only a matter of time before lines are drawn in the sand.
- Anyone Can Die
- Brainwashed and Crazy: The majority of those who watch the Idol Experiment get brainwashed by the Virtual Mind Collective to become its slavish, devoted followers. Some are immune, though The Producer doesn't care — as he puts it, "the majority is all one needs to bring about such grand change."
- Cruel and Unusual Death: The very fact that these idols were gathered under the pretense of participating in a reality show, only to find themselves in a killing game, is pretty cruel in and of itself. While no deaths have occurred as of yet, it's safe to say that the game will probably contain at least one of these.
- Deal with the Devil: During the finale, the survivors are presented with one last Sadistic Choice: sign up with Virtual Mind, or take their chances amongst the brainwashed masses?
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: The Mastermind, upon learning of The Producer's true plan, demands to know whether or not her daughter was among the victims.
- Exact Words: Manager-san claims that there is only one traitor amongst the group. The key part there is traitor — one person has been working as The Mole, while another was working against them from the start as the Director who created the Idol Experiment.
- Four Is Death:
- The fourth chapter sees two murders, with two different culprits.
- In the end, four of the survivors choose to remain with Virtual Mind. While the five that refused are allowed to leave unharmed, The Producer informs the four that signed on that if any of them betray the group after signing up, that will count as treason, and they'll face public execution.
- Idol Singer: The entire cast is comprised of them.
- The Man Behind the Man: The Mastermind, and The Producer of Virtual Mind.
- Mystery of the Week: Bodies drop on a set schedule. The living characters have a period of time during which they must solve the mystery of who committed a murder.
- Out-Gambitted: During the finale, the Mastermind finds herself in this position. She designed the Idol Experiment intending for it to fail, and for public outrage to bring the entire industry crashing down, as she'd roped as many corrupt companies into supporting it as possible. Unfortunately, The Producer then took the whole project in an entirely different — but no less horrifying — direction behind her back.
- Reality TV: The premise of the roleplay is that the characters have agreed to take part in a reality TV show.
- Unwitting Pawn: The idols. Not only were they misled about the precise nature of the show they signed up for, they were also unaware that said show was designed to brainwash everyone who watched it. Ironically enough, this last point also applies to the Mastermind — she wasn't aware of what The Producer was planning, either.
